Thursday 8 June 2006
CHAMPION BRICKIE BRINGS HOME TROPHY

Novice bricklayer Phil Ayling, 19 has laid the foundations for a brilliant career by becoming senior winner of the National Bricklayers Guild competition for Yorkshire & Humberside.

Phil, a construction student at Calderdale College, competed against level three bricklayers from five other colleges in Barnsley on Monday before bringing home the trophy.

“Competitors had to construct a test model from a plan within a set time”, explained Joe Lumb, Calderdale College bricklaying tutor “They were shown the plan just a few minutes before the competition began and had six hours to complete the project. They were judged to industrial standards by independent adjudicators on how plumb, neat and level the finished piece was”.

Phil, who lives in Manor Heath, works for Hutton & Cawood and is currently working on a large, detached home in Hipperholme. “I’ve been studying construction at Calderdale College for one day a week for the last three years and I’ve got my final exam tomorrow (Friday)”, said Phil. “I’m really pleased to have won and my family is well chuffed!”.

Sam Garnett, 18, also took part in the competition, at short notice, and was commended by tutor Joe Lumb. “We’re particularly proud of Sam because he was thrown in at the deep end. He’s a first year student who was competing against second years and the quality of his work was first class. If he can improve his speed I’m confident that he will be a future winner”.

Sam works for Halifax builders Sugden & Bros and is working on an apartment conversion in Luddenden Foot. He lives in Skircoat Green.