Twenty-year old Joe Ogle from Bailey Building Services has been named the 2011 SkillPIPE champion after three days of intense practical competition at Leeds College of Building.
The finalists' task was to cut, thread, weld and install pipework with temperature controls, commissioning valves and a circulating pump, all to a high standard and tight specification. The whole installation was then scrutinised and pressure tested by industry experts who marked the competitors on their work.
Mr Ogle beat five other competitors to take the gold medal after judges scored him most highly against strict criteria including measuring and marking out, welding quality, threading quality, pipework installation and soundness, material usage, overall presentation of installation, and health & safety.
The competition, which has the HVCA as its main sponsor, awarded silver and bronze places to Joe McNally (Bailey Building Services) and Dean Cameron (Express Heating Co) respectively. Colin Webster of SPIE Matthew Hall also received a Highly Commended award for an excellent performance.
Next year's SkillPIPE competition will open for entries in November 2011. For more information contact SummitSkills on 01908 303972 or visit www.skillpipe.org.uk