Top Apprentices Picked to Represent UK at Delayed IFD World Championship

AFTER A DAY OF testing competition between five of the best-skilled apprentices in the UK, two have been chosen to represent the UK at the 28^th World Championships for Young Roofers.

The competition, organised by the IFD, is scheduled to take place in 2022, postponed from 2020.

Philip Houghton and Jordan Condren, who were joint winners at the 2019 Skillbuild competition for pitched roofing, will form the two-man team, which will be led by Will Emerton.

Philip Houghton at Skillbuild in 2019

Emerton, who competed at the last World Championships, will train alongside the two young roofers, before deciding which should be the second man of the team and which the substitute.

Bob Richardson, NFRC’s Technical and Training Manager said, “It’s a shame that IFD 2020 has been postponed due to the Coronavirus. However, the selected UK team will be eligible for a place in the 2022 competition and I wish both Philip and Jordan the best of luck.

“Knowing the exceptional skills and quality of their tutors and mentors Bob Coutts, Matt Timby and Andy Rowlands and having witnessed Will Emerton’s skillset in the last world championships I know that the road leading up to the competition will be a fantastic and exciting learning experience for them.”

Competition

The last step in the elimination process took place at the NFRC Centre of Excellence at CORE Hereford.

Senior Judge and Mentor Bob Coutts said, “All of the young roofers demonstrated skill beyond their years, and it was a close call to select two out of the five competitors.”