Pembrokeshire College principal Glyn Jones welcomed contestants from all over Wales who recently took part in this year's Guild of Bricklayers Welsh regional competition held at the college's new award-winning eco-friendly Construction Centre on their main campus in Haverfordwest.

Each year, regional and national competitions are held throughout the UK in which up to 300 trainees take part. Highly trained judges mark the tests with first, second and third places awarded to both junior (16-18-year-old) and senior (19-22-year-old) sections.

Lead judge Dennis Westward commented: "There was a very good turnout on the day with the new construction centre providing ideal conditions for the contestants to work in.

"The standard of work in both the junior and senior competitions was very good - this made judging a pleasure but very difficult to pick the winners."

Sponsored prizes and medals were awarded by ex-Guild president Steve Barlow to the first three winners of each competition and all entrants were given a certificate to commend them for their hardwork and efforts on the day.

Guild of Bricklayers Regional winners were:

Junior - 1. Macus Wintle from Merthyr Tydfil College; 2. Tom Parkes from Pembrokeshire College; 3. Lewis Boucher from Coleg Gwent Pontypool.

Senior - 1. Shaun Walton from Coleg Sir Gar; 2. Shaneil Bashar from Coleg Llandrillo; 3. Dewi Arwel Davies from Coleg Meirion Dwyfor.

Throughout the day, live action of the competition was shown through the plasma screen in the atrium for all to observe.

"The Guild of Bricklayers' mission is really about putting something back into industry training young students for the future and always maintaining high standards throughout," said Welsh Guild secretary Robert Garbett.

"Overall the day was a great success. We are thankful for Pembrokeshire College for hosting this year's event, all the competitors and teaching staff who attended, and to the companies who sponsored us Speedy Hire, Federation of Master Builders, Simon Safety, Construction Skills, Slate Centre, and builders David Stowell and Dorian Phillips."