Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities linemen defended the utility's title at the 10th annual Northeast Public Power Association Lineworkers' Rodeo in Littleton, Mass.

Two three-man crews from NPU competed in the six events: hurt man rescue, obstacle course, transformer change-out and dead-end 5kV single phase relocation.

The team of linemen Jeff Burgess, Mike Sumner and Will Maxeiner took the event's overall championship, placing first in four of the six events. The second NPU team of Scott Smith, Tom Holmes and Graham Andruskiewicz placed third in two of the events.

Last year, it was the team of Smith, Holmes and Andruskiewicz that won the overall championship.

“We are enormously proud but not the least bit surprised that our employees performed so well at this regional competition,” NPU General Manager John Bilda said in a news release announcing the championship. “The talent demonstrated by these individuals at the NEPPA Lineworkers Rodeo is developed over years and years of dedicated service on behalf of our customers.”