Sarah proves she’s handy in skills test

A HANDYWOMAN student has claimed one of the top prizes at the north west heat of a trade skills competition.

Sarah Wilkinson, 34, from Middleton, took part in SkillBuild 2017 at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale.

She is also currently studying there for a level one diploma in carpentry and joining and gained second place in the competition’s junior joinery category.

Other students from the college, on St Mary’s Gate, also did themselves proud on home turf with a total of five securing top three finishes.

Rob Wilson, a lecturer at Hopwood Hall, said: “I’m really happy for all the students, the level of competition was very high and they did incredibly well to finish in their respective top threes.

“They’re ambassadors for a lot talented tradespeople coming through in these local areas, this is arguably the biggest competition of its kind and to earn a top three place is brilliant.

“I’d also like to thank Chris Moule from Tilgear, who were one of the sponsors of the event.

“He provided a lot of encouragement and support for our students and Tilgear also supplied a tool pack for the winners of each competition, which was really classy of them.”

SkillBuild 2017 features junior and senior competitions in bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering and wall and floor tiling.

The highest scoring winners from each regional heat will be invited to the national final.

Another successful Hopwood student was Sam Fletcher, 28, from Rochdale, studying for a diploma in bricklaying, who came top in this trade’s junior section.

The others were Jessica Smithson, 20, from Milnrow, who came third in junior painting and decorating, Anthony Brown, 26, from Royton, third in junior plastering and Stuart Smith, 39, from Rochdale, third in senior plastering.

The national finals, which aims to find the country’s top trainee tradesmen, will take place in November.