A former bricklayer from Stoke-on-Trent has been crowned champion of the "Super Trowel", described as "the superbowl of bricklaying". Dale Wherton laid 859 bricks in one hour to win the competition, which took place in Hertfordshire.
The victory means Wherton will travel to Las Vegas in January to compete in the Spec Mix brickwork 500 competition against other world champions.
From Stoke-on-Trent to the World Stage
Wherton now lives in Derby and works as a brickwork tutor. He previously worked as a bricklaying contractor for 20 years, including seven years in Australia.
He studied at Burslem College, now a campus for Stoke-on-Trent College, where he first discovered his passion for bricklaying. On his first day at college, Wherton said: "As soon as I put a trowel in my hand, I knew that was what I was going to do for the rest of my working career."
Inspiration from a Mentor
His lecturer at the time, Brian Cooper, inspired his love of the trade and was the first to tell him about the Las Vegas event. Years later, Wherton lost touch with Cooper but was reunited with him by chance at a Super Trowel event.
"I've been trying to get in touch with him for the last five years," Wherton said. "I bumped into another lecturer that worked at Burslem College, and little did I know, my old lecturer, Brian Cooper was standing next to him. I had a tear to my eye almost."
Wherton added that he now passes on the traits his former lecturer taught him to his own students.
Las Vegas Competition Ahead
Speaking ahead of the January competition, Wherton said he was feeling confident. "I'm going up against the best in the world. So it's a nice thing to put my name on the map really. It's huge actually."
