Masonry Magazine March 2009 Page. 44
MCAA CONVENTION
Products, QUIKRETE, SPEC MIX, and TNT Equipment Co. The Golden Grout sponsor was Solomon Colors Inc. Bronze Bucket sponsors were the Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis, Chemical Lime, Prism Pigments, Western Lime, and Basalite Concrete Products. An additional sponsor was the California Conference of Mason Contractors Associations, and a prize donator was Grout Grunt.
The MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition was held on Thursday, Feb. 5. The competition is a showcase of both the speed and skill of our industry's workforce. Journeyman masons, accompanied by their two favorite tenders, competed in a show of both speed and craftsmanship. Each contestant's goal is to complete as much of an 18-block-long wall as possible, using 8-inch X 8-inch X 16-inch CMU and the provided mortar in a 20-minute heat. The contest promotes quality training and pride in workmanship among journeymen and contractors, as well as promotes the craftsmanship, speed and versatility of masonry systems and the masonry workforce.
This year, Pascal Robertson repeated as the Fastest Trowel champion, winning for the second year in a row. The contest was suspenseful and exciting, as each mason worked quickly to build a quality wall as the crowd cheered them on during the 20-minute competition. All winners were presented with trophies. The first-place winner took home $7,000, a BX-4 saw from MK Diamond Products, and a plaque from Marshalltown. The second-place winner received $2,500, and the third-place winner received $1,000. All contestants received a Marshalltown tool bag, a level from Crick Tool, a Grout Grunt, and additional prizes from Mortar Net and QUIKRETE.
WINNERS OF THE FASTEST TROWEL ON THE BLOCK WERE:
First Place
Pascal Robertson, Robertson Masonry, Sorrento, Fla.
Tenders: Tyler Robertson, Jesse Fullen
Second Place
Ray Robinson, J.A.M. Construction Inc., Gainesville, Fla.
Tenders: Lynette Darby, James Allen