Try Your Hand at Auctioneering at Beef Expo 2009
2009-Apr-13

Both professional auctioneers and members of the public will have the opportunity of demonstrating their skills in auctioneering in a novel competition at Beef Expo 2009.

photo courtesy www.livestock-sales.co.uk

This year’s national beef event, organised by the National Beef Association with Lloyds Bank as major sponsor, will be held on Thursday, May 21, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcester, courtesy of the Three Counties Agricultural Society.

Competitors will have 90 seconds to impress the judges in an “X-Factor” style competition which will see participants eliminated if the four judges show two or more red lights. Those surviving the 90 seconds will go through to the final and the chance to win a cash prize of £50 and an engraved rosebowl in each of the two classes. All finalists will receive a Certificate of Competence.

“This is a fun competition open to all but will give budding auctioneers an opportunity of impressing prospective employers,” said auctioneer, Clive Roads, a partner in McCartneys, who is chairman of the Beef Expo organising committee.

The class for novices is open to members of the public and trainee auctioneers not conducting regular sales while a second class is for experienced auctioneers conducting regular sales. There is no age limit and participants can enter on the day or obtain an entry form in advance.

Each competitor will be expected to describe an item selected at random by the stewards and conduct a brief auction. Competitors will be judged on descriptive ability, presence and confidence, fluidity, ability to hold the attention of the judges and overall ability and awareness.

The competition is being sponsored by leading West Midlands and Mid Wales auctioneers, McCartneys LLP, and judged by John Uffold, chairman of McCartneys, Jenny Layton, a partner in McCartneys, Richard Abbey, a partner in John Earle and Son, and Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.

Entry forms for the competition are available from McCartneys on 01905 769772 (Tel), 01905 769772 (Fax) or worcester@mccartneys.co.uk

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