Vancouver, BC hosts SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional competition

Words: Jeff FarmakesThe 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Competition for British Columbia was held at The Trowel Trades Training Associaion in Surrey, BC on September 5th. Five teams of brick masons and tenders vied to represent British Columbia in a competition spot for the first time in the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, they will compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes including a new 2014 Ford F-250 XLT truck.

John Kerr, a mason with Alpine Masonry, Surrey, BC and his mason tender Jake Martin, handled the challenge of being the first champion of the BC regional. His net count of 476 brick got the job done. Not only did first place carry the opportunity to compete in the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 in Las Vegas for John, but it also came with $600 cash, trowels and a bag from Marshalltown. Kerr also captured the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award of $300 and tools from Marshalltown. The second place prize of $300 went to Reil Boight from S&S Masonry. Boight’s 2nd place total of 348 edged out 3rd place winner Mike Doyle of Allegra Masonry (324 brick) by only 24 brick. All bricklayers and tenders received cash and prizes for their participation.

The 2014 SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 British Columbia Regional was hosted for the first time in Surrey, BC on the property of The Trowel Trades Training Association. The Trowel Trades Training Association, www.ttta.ca, is an industry training authority accredited institution dedicated to the development of the bricklaying, cement mason and tilesetting trades in British Columbia. The event sponsors included Tristar Block and IXL Masonry supplies who supplied CMU’s and brick respectively for the event. The food was sponsored by BC Brick. Equipment and supplies were donated by Limen Group. Prizes were supplied locally by Hinterland.

Spider Staging and Betamax set up their product display to demonstrate their latest in products for the construction industry. Multiquip sent mixers and mortar tubs to accommodate the mixing and production of 10 tons of SPEC MIX Portland Lime Sand Type S Mortar used by all the Bricklayers in 1 hour. Food, sponsored by BC Brick, was prepared for all attendees. A heads/tails game at the end resulted in a hundred dollar cash prize to the winning bricklayer’s (John Kerr) daughter.

Final Results

First Place

Mason — John Kerr — 476 Brick Tender — Jake Martin
Alpine Masonry, Surrey, BC
SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN
Mason — John Kerr — 476 Brick Tender — Jake Martin
Alpine Masonry, Surrey, BC

2nd Place

Mason — Reil Boight - 348 Brick Tender — Theo Van Tunen
S&S Masonry, Langley, BC

3rd Place

Mason — Mike Doyle - 324 Brick Tender — Jason Garnett
Allegra Masonry, Vancouver, BC

For more information on the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER Regional Program call 888-SPECMIX or go to www.specmixbricklayer500.com.
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