In what is becoming as much an annual tradition as the contest itself, Brian Woytkiw was crowned the winner of the 2012 National King Miner Contest for the fourth straight year June 24, picking up the $2,000 top prize, as well as $2,000 for his top four placings in six of the 11 events, including first place showings in crib building and ladder climbing, along with second place in the jackleg drilling and pipe fitting, and third place in both the hand mucking and nail driving portions.

Woytkiw was also the champion in 2007.

Woytkiw also picked up a share of the $1,000 top prize in the team event, which he won along with Sylvain Amyotte, Randy Radesic and Josh Forest.

The runner-up was also a repeat from last year, as Glen Hayden took the $700 second prize, along with $2,400 for his individual event showings which included four first places – in jackleg drilling, hose mending, hand mucking and nail driving – as well as fourth in stoper drilling and second in law sawing.

Josh Forest was the second runner-up, winning $200, after finishing first overall in stoper drilling and log sawing, second in hose mending and bolting, and fourth in pipe fitting, giving him additional winnings of $1,700.

Radesic was the third runner up for the third year running, capturing $100 for that accomplishment, plus $1,500 for the individual event showings, which included first place in bolting, second place in hand mucking, third in hose mending and steel packing, and fourth in crib building, ladder climbing and nail driving.

Clinton Organ took home $500 as the top rookie in this year's contest, as well as $200 for finishing third in the pipe fitting event.

Scott Kennedy was the only contestant not among the top four finishers overall to claim first place in any of the individual events, taking home $1,000 for winning the steel packing and pipe fitting competitions. Kennedy was also second in ladder climbing and third in crib building.

Other contestants finishing in the top four in individual events were Sylvain Amyotte (second in stoper drilling), Frank Forest (third in stoper drilling and fourth in bolting), Gord Walen (second in crib building and third in jackleg drilling), Dave Ryz (second in steel packing and nail driving and fourth in jackleg drilling), Terry Francois (third in log sawing), Clinton Morrisseau (fourth in log sawing and hand mucking), Ethan Amyotte (third in ladder climbing), and Peter McCafferty (fourth in hose mending), Bill Merasty (third in bolting and fourth in steel packing).

The contest was held in its second new location in as many years, this time in the parking lot in the rear of the Thompson Regional Community Centre, adjacent to the Burntwood Curling Club.