A leading college group is enjoying a double celebration after two of its students won the regional junior and senior editions of a prestigious bricklayer’s competition.
College group WCG students Declan Hobley, from Bretford, won the senior prize, while Owen Shaw, from Solihull, came away as the victorious junior in the Guild of Bricklayers competition.
The competition was held at Rugby College, which is part of WCG. The Guild of Bricklayers is an association first founded in 1932, with the dual aims of promoting and maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork.
Each year, the Guild, through its network of sections, organises regional brickwork competitions at senior, junior and schools levels. A National Final then takes place, bringing together the winners of the senior competitions from each of the regional events.
Declan, age 22, who studies at Rugby College, won the prize in the senior category, with Nick Cox of the National House Building Council (NHBC) training centre coming second.
Owen, age 17, who studies at Moreton Morrell College, emerged victorious in the junor category and Kyle Fenmore from NHBC training centre trailed close behind.
Owen is in his first year of bricklaying training, having first started back in September. He’s recently embarked on an apprenticeship with Taylor Wimpey.
While Declan is in the final year of his apprenticeship in Brickwork, and currently works with his dad at their company D.J Hobley & Sons. Declan expressed his delight at his work being recognised.
Declan said: “It feels fantastic to have beaten off the competition of my fellow talented entrees and to have won the senior edition of the competition.
“I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against my fellow regional winners when the national competition comes around in June.”
Competitors in the junior category competed for five hours and seniors competed for six hours apiece.
Both winners from the junior and senior sections will now go through to the national finals on Wednesday, June 22 at South Staffordshire College.
Another student from Rugby College also had success in the competition, with Josh Townsend claiming third in the junior section.
Will Dewes, Brickwork Lecturer at WCG, said: “All the competitors did fantastically well and showcased a very high standard of work.
“I'm especially proud of the WCG students from both Moreton Morrell College and Rugby College. They have done tremendously, with some pupils only in their first year of training. To be able to say they competed in the competition is fantastic but to be placed and even win is amazing.
“For all of my students that entered, it has added an extra string to their bow and helped them highlight their skills to potential customers and employers.”
To find out more about brickwork courses and apprenticeships at WCG visit www.wcg.ac.uk/study
PICTURE CAPTION: Josh Townsend, Declan Hobley, Owen Shaw, Bill Bowman - President of the Guild of Bricklayers, Will Dewes - Brickwork Course Manager, Anthony Rouse - Head of Department and Richard Gray - Brickwork Tutor at the Guild of Bricklayers competition