Now Nick goes for gold
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• Nicholas Partington, of Radlciffe Road Garage, Bolton, has won the Road Transport Industry Training Board's Young Mechanic of the Year contest. Partington will represent the United Kingdom in the Automobile Mechanics category of the International Youth Skill Olympics at Birmingham NEC next year.
The emphasis in the finals, held at Motec, High Ercall, Shropshire, was on practical ability. The contest was strongly supported by the trade in view of the emphasis on skill. "There is a skills shortage in Britain," says an RTITB officer.
The competitors undertook a number of tasks demanding in terms of both technical complexity and accuracy. Bonus points were awarded for completion within time limits.
Nearly 100 competitors contested a preliminary round. After a theory test, 16 went forwards to the semi-finals, where there were several practical tests and interviews. At the finals, Partington competed against three other finalists — Peter Bedford, of AFN Porsche (London); Philip Latchem, of Bryan Brothers; and Philip Molloy of Parkside Garage, Coventry.
Last year's YMY, Andrew Delaney, from an ARG dealership, represented the UK in the International Skill Olympics at Sydney, Australia, earlier this year, and won the gold medal.
The National Junior Mechanics Competition (NJMC) also took place at High Ercall.
Stevenson College, Edinburgh, beat nearest rival Autotech Training, of Bournemouth to win.