Nevada Day: Rock drilling world champion retains title

Defending world champion single-jack hard rock driller Emmit Hoyl retained his title during the Nevada Day contest Saturday.

"I am elated," said Hoyl after pounding a 1419⁄32-inch hole into a slab of solid Sierra White granite in 10 minutes.

Hoyl, who hails from Rollinsville, Colo., said his area is home to the largest number of world drilling champions in the world.

"I practice all year and enter contests all over the world and I work out a lot," he said. "I also come from a history of mining - five generations of miners, and I do ornate iron work and blacksmithing, so that's good for swinging a hammer, too."

Carson City's own driller, Tobin Rupert, had a bad day in the contest, drilling only 629⁄32 inches.

"I did bad today," Rupert said after the event. "I've been training my (tail) off and hitting great, but I got a cramp in my forearm and could only hit with my pinky. But it's fun, so you can't whine about it. You just get out there and it falls where it falls. And you know what they say - a bad day drilling is better than a day of no drilling at all."

The 36th annual World Championship Contest of Single-jack Hard Rock Drilling came with a $6,000 purse, $2,000 of which went to first place winner Hoyl.

The popular event, which started at about 11 a.m. wasn't over until 4 p.m. Saturday.

Conrad Howard of Dayton, said it's one of his favorite Nevada Day events.

"I don't come here every year, but I always want to come every year. There's just something about using a hammer to get stuff done," he said.

"I've been in the granite business for almost 15 years, and I just love the history and the heritage of it all. It's neat," he said.

For Carson City resident Doug Howard, the rock-drilling competition is always a draw.

"It's a good place to meet up with people," he said, admitting he probably wouldn't want to participate in the contest.

"I've thought about it, but there's no telling how many times I'd smack my hand," he said, laughing.