National co-ordinator of the event Bill Henman.

Two new winners were crowned at this year's national forklift championship held in Sydney last week.

Competing against a field of 19 finalists, Puna Ririnui became the 2011 female champion, while Jamie Keddie took the title of men's champion.

National co-ordinator of the event Bill Henman says the knowledge and skills shown this year were the highest yet seen. Judges set a tight driving course to challenge competitors, which featured 90-degree turns, circles and multiple manoeuvres including the moving of an exercise ball on the tines of a forklift from one location to another.

To ensure fairness and safety, a competition judge drove the course in seven minutes so the set timeframe of 15 minutes was achievable under competition conditions.