Norwich — In a rodeo that had nothing to do with bucking broncos, six Norwich Public Utilities linemen recently came home with the championship trophy in the New England Public Power Association's Lineman Rodeo.

The two teams of NPU linemen finished in first place in four events and second place in two others and earned the overall top score for the championship trophy at the Sept. 17-18 New England rodeo.

The events are based on realistic job scenarios for linemen — including equipment change-outs, isolating power lines, a hurt-man rescue and an obstacle course — while promoting safety and teamwork, said Bob Pounch, longtime NPU linemen foreman, while introducing the winning teams to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners Tuesday.

Pounch held up the trophy, which has winning teams from each year engraved on the side, and called it “the Stanley Cup” of the linemen's rodeo.

Pounch said NPU hopes to return the trophy at next year's event “for one day” before bringing it back to Norwich with a new victory.

NPU linemen Scott Smith, Tom Holmes and Grahm Andruskiewicz formed Team 1, while Jeff Burgess, Mike Sumner and Will Maxeiner competed in Team 2, which placed first overall.

c.bessette@theday.com

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