2022 ALPA National Young Auctioneer Competition runner up Corey Evans, left, and winner William Claridge.

INVERELL stock agent William Claridge has been sashed as Australia’s top young livestock auctioneer after a sell-off at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

The C.L. Squires & Co. agent won the 2022 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition title from second placegetter Corey Evans from Aussie Land & Livestock at Kingaroy and a cohort of finalists from around Australia.

The Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association said a field of nine finalists from across Australia ensured strong competition for the national title’s Prosser Cup. The finalists included two young auctioneers from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, and one from Western Australia.

ALPA’s national and New South Wales Young Auctioneers Competitions were held simultaneously at the show.

2022 ALPA New South Wales Young Auctioneer Competition runner up, Jake Smith, left, and winner Harry Waters

The winner of the NSW final and the John Weekes Memorial Shield was Gundagai Elders agent Harry Waters from second placegetter Jake Smith from Ray White Rural at Tenterfield. Jake and Harry will represent NSW in the 2023 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition. The Max Bailey Encouragement Award went to Justin Oakenfull, Elders Rural Services, Inverell.

The NAB Agribusiness Team Shield was hotly contested and awarded to the state with the highest score. This was New South Wales, represented by William Claridge, C.L. Squires & Co, Inverell and Jake McKenzie, Duncombe & Co Pty Ltd, Crookwell.

The ten NSW competitors and nine national competitors each sold three diligently prepared show steers. The competitors 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 said.

ALPA said the achievement of all auctioneers to compete at such a high standard is true testament to their dedication to their craft. ALPA chief executive officer Peter Baldwin said the impeccable performances of the national and NSW competitors was copybook, “honouring the tradition of fine auctioneering craft and giving us all great confidence that the future of the industry is in safe hands.”

The night before the competitions, a record crowd of over 340 ALPA members, industry professionals, competitors’ families and friends gathered at the annual ALPA NSW and National Young Auctioneers Dinner to celebrate the talent and achievements of the young auctioneers. A highlight of the night was the charity auction which raised over $65,000 for Dolly’s Dream – a record amount for a single ALPA charity auction.