Warrington's World Champion

FORMER Warrington Collegiate student Ashley Terron is celebrating after taking the gold medal at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013.
The 20-year-old, from Appleton, won in the Bricklaying event, with the highest marks ever awarded in an event at WorldSkills, the world’s largest international skills competition featuring more than 1000 young people.
He said: “To win Gold in Bricklaying is just amazing. It still hasn’t really sunk in that I am the best young bricklayer in the World. The last few months have been really tough fitting my training for WorldSkills around work and family responsibilities but it has been totally worth it. I want to show the UK how Apprenticeships and vocational training can enable young people to gain a real qualification and a real future.”
Proud and delighted with his former student, Paul Gould, Curriculum Manager for Construction and the Built Environment at Warrington Collegiate sent the following message to the staff at the college as soon as the news broke, “We have a World Champion! It’s official, Ashley is the best Bricklayer in the World!”
Ashley’s Brickwork tutor, Rob Holmes, at Warrington Collegiate has supported Ashley from the start and was out in Leipzig to witness Ashley’s success.
He added: “It was apparent from the first day four years ago when Ashley started at college that he was a highly talented student. He proved this by winning both the Junior and Senior Skillbuild competition, then taking the bronze medal in the national competition. Ashley wasn’t satisfied with being third and when he was invited to train with Team UK for the International competition he was determined to come away with nothing less than the gold. After an outstanding few days at Worldskills Leipzig 2013 Ashley was the winner by a clear 2%, which is a huge margin in world-class competition.”
The event took place over four days of intense competition, with Team UK winning two Gold, one Silver, three Bronze and 17 Medallions for Excellence in skills ranging from Bricklaying, Autobody Repair and Aircraft Maintenance. Medallions for Excellence are awarded to those competitors who reach the world class standard in their skill.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “British ambition and ingenuity has once again taken on and beaten the best in the world and I extend my congratulations to Team UK. As we compete in the global race, this Government is on the side of ambitious young people who want to work hard and get on and we will continue in our efforts to build the biggest and best apprenticeship programme.”