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Elders agents dominate 2018 ALPA Young Auctioneer competition.

Terry Sim March 26, 2018

2018 National Young Auctioneer Competition winner, Sam Gemmell, Elders, left, with runner-up Nick Shorten, GDL. Photo – ALPA.

ELDERS Cootamundra stock agent Sam Gemmell has won Australia’s top young auctioneer award for New South Wales.

The 24-year-old won the 2018 Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association’s National Young Auctioneers Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show last Friday.

Sam has been in the industry for four years, and sells sheep and cattle weekly in Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga. He holds his stock and station agent Licence and is also an AuctionsPlus assessor.

Nick Shorten, 25, of GDL in Roma, Queensland, was the runner-up in the competition. He has been in the industry for six years and sells cattle weekly in Roma. He holds his chattel auctioneer and real estate licences and is also an AuctionsPlus assessor.

Sam will now go on to represent Australia at the International Livestock Auctioneer Competition held at the Calgary Stampede in Canada later this year. He also took home the Prosser Cup and various other prizes.

Elders agent also wins NSW competition

2018 NSW Young Auctioneer Competition runner-up Baden Chaffey, Landmark Townsend Scone, left, with winner Tom Pollard, Elders. Photo – ALPA.

Elders Dubbo agent Tom Pollard, 19, was declared the 2018 ALPA NSW Young Auctioneers Competition winner, earning himself the John Weekes Memorial Shield and a place in the 2019 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition. Tom has been in the industry for two and a half years, and sells sheep, cattle and goats twice a week at the Dubbo saleyards. He holds his certificate of registration and is also an AuctionsPlus assessor.

NSW competition runner-up, Baden Chaffey, 22, of Landmark Townsend Scone, will also represent New South Wales and have a shot at the 2019 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition. Baden has been in the industry for five years and sells mostly cattle weekly in Scone. He holds his stock and station agent and real estate agent licences and is also an AuctionsPlus assessor for cattle and sheep.

The Max Bailey Encouragement Award went to Jack Pippen, of Spencer & Bennett – Yenda Prods, Griffith.

The NAB Agribusiness Team Shield for the state competitors with the highest combined score went to NSW, represented by Sam Gemmell of Elders Cootamundra and Hamish McGeoch of Landmark Wagga Wagga.

Eighteen young auctioneers showcased their auctioneering skills on March 23 at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, marking 28 years of the ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition and 30 years of the ALPA NSW Young Auctioneers Competition.

The 10 NSW and eight national competitors each had to sell three lots. They were judged on their diction, values, voice and manner, as well as their presence and unique style, by a panel of respected and experienced auctioneers.

ALPA chief executive officer Andy Madigan said the national competition brings together the best young auctioneers from across the country; the competition is always exciting to watch. The competitors in the national competition attended one or more ALPA auctioneer schools in 2017 and made their way through their state competitions.

The night before the competition, more than 320 ALPA members, industry professionals and the competitor’s friends and families gathered at the annual ALPA NSW and National Young Auctioneers Competitions Dinner. A highlight of the night was the charity auction, conducted by 2017 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition winner Lincoln McKinlay and 2017 New Zealand Young Auctioneers Competition winner Logan Moore. The auction raised almost $25,000 for Legacy.

Source: ALPA.

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  1. Michael Lowe, March 28, 2018

    It is great to see these young auctioneers continuing on a great tradition. Congratulations to all.
    Michael Lowe

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