'I'm competing to be the fastest bricklayer in Europe'

Most bricklayers would regard laying about 600 bricks in a full day as a solid shift.

Chris Quinn, however, is aiming to nearly double that tally in just one hour.

The 42-year-old, from Newry in County Down, has qualified for this month's Super Trowel European Championships after winning the Irish qualifier at the same college where he trained as an apprentice.

Success there could see him book his place at the world finals in Las Vegas.

Super Trowel is a competitive bricklaying competition that tests speed, skill and accuracy.

Competitors have one hour to build a section of wall, with judges assessing not only how many bricks are laid, but also the quality of the finished work.

Points are deducted for mistakes, meaning accuracy is just as important as speed.

National qualifying events are held across Europe, with winners progressing to the European Championships. The champion then secures a place at the world finals.

Quinn has been laying bricks since leaving school at 16, but only discovered Super Trowel last year after one of his apprentices, Cian McLoughlin, entered the junior competition.

McLoughlin won the Irish junior title and encouraged his boss to have a go himself.

Quinn entered the senior qualifier this year and won, securing his place at the European Championships in England.

Although he has more than 25 years of experience in the trade, competitive bricklaying has presented a fresh challenge.

"Every day is a school day.

"You're watching other bricklayers, picking up wee techniques and finding what works for you."

The practice appears to be paying off.

During one recent training session, Quinn laid 1,085 bricks in an hour.

He believes competitors from England may have an advantage because they work with clay bricks every day, while much of his own work involves concrete blocks.

"I probably have to practice more than most just to get used to handling the bricks.

"But we're confident. We're not going over there just to make the numbers up."

Cian McLoughlin will travel with Quinn to the championships as his hod carrier, keeping him supplied with bricks and mortar throughout the hour-long contest.

The pair have known each other for years. Quinn previously worked for McLoughlin's father, and the apprentice remembers going to builders' merchants with him as a child.

"We know each other a long time and we get on well.

"There's plenty of slagging on site.

"Winning a competition together is a good memory and in years to come we'll always look back on that."

Success relies on more than just the person laying the bricks.

A hod carrier has to keep bricks and mortar flowing throughout the hour, while making sure damaged bricks never make it into the stack.

"He has to keep feeding me bricks and mortar and make sure there are no chipped bricks.

"It all happens that fast you don't have time to stop.

"He has to be on top of his game as well."

Quinn says competitive bricklaying has given him "a new lease of life".

The competition has become the main topic of conversation on site, and the excitement has spread beyond work.

"My son and two daughters love it.

"They're telling all their friends in school about it."

He hopes a strong performance in Europe will inspire more people to take up competitive bricklaying.

"There are three young lads working with us now and they all want to have a go.

"If I can get onto the podium, it'll only help make more people aware of it."

McLoughlin believes interest is already growing among apprentices.

"A couple of the younger apprentices we're working with are already asking about it.

"They're looking forward to getting involved."

The world finals in Las Vegas are the prize on offer.

But for Quinn, becoming European champion would be the bigger achievement.

"It would mean a lot to my family if I could win."

McLoughlin, meanwhile, already has one eye on another trip to Nevada.

"I'm just back from Vegas.

"I'll have a better game plan for the after-party."