Last week’s Demolition Awards provided an insight into the psyche of the industry.
For more years than I care to remember, I have watched the coverage of the Oscars ceremony, partly because I love cinema but also because I harbour a sadistic side that enjoys watching famous actors and actresses struggling to retain fixed grins when they hear that they haven’t actually won a trophy. But these being professional actors, their every move, smile, tear and gasp has been rehearsed, honed and perfected to ensure that an unplanned show of emotion doesn’t damage their public persona.
Demolition contractors, however, are not generally blessed in the artifice department. And so the immediate aftermath of last Friday’s Demolition Awards provided opportunity to witness raw emotion on display.
There were normally reserved demolition professionals whooping with delight when their name was called out; there was the literal hanging of heads from those whose awards journey ended at the shortlist stage; and, unfortunately, there were a few who immediately cited a lack of independence within the judging panel as the only possible explanation for their own lack of success (although quite how organisers KHL could have made their multi-national, multi-discipline judging panel any more independent remains something of a mystery).
It is worth noting, however, the primary purpose of these (and many other) industry awards. They are designed not to promote a particular company, brand or product but to promote and recognise best practice.
And, for me, three reactions on the night really stood out. John Cuddy of shortlisted Cuddy Group said that he was incredibly proud that his company had even made it onto the shortlist, particularly in light of the level of global competition on display. Noel McLean of Armac Group was still in shock several hours later at having seen off such stiff competition to clinch the Civils category title.
But our personal favourite came from Brian Carroll of excavator modifier Kocurek Excavators. Having seen sometime business partner Liebherr win the award for Innovation – Custom Machine, Carroll said, simply: “We will be here next year, and we’re determined to win.”
OK, it’s not quite Rudyard Kipling’s “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster. And treat those two impostors just the same….” But based on that level of determination, I certainly wouldn’t bet against Kocurek bagging an award in 2011.
