Phil Bachetti 9W9, construction technology-masonry instructor, has had bragging rights for being the No. 1 bricklayer in the entire state of Pennsylvania the last two years, after winning the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 competition in Pennsylvania.
Twice he has represented the state in the Spec Mix national competition in Las Vegas.
Now he can brag that he is also the No. 2 bricklayer in all of England.
In April, Bachetti competed in Super Trowel, a competition in London to see who is the best bricklayer in all of England. Bachetti competed against the best in the entire country – and took first place. (He was named No. 2, because the bricklayer who is No. 1, had a bye year after winning last year’s Super Trowel competition, the inaugural competition.)
Thirty teams competed, all from England, except for Bachetti who was the only American and the only foreigner. The 45-minute competition was for speed and accuracy, with accuracy being most important. The smallest fault caused points to be taken off, which added to the pressure.
Each team made a double-wythe brick wall 4 and 1/2 meters long. The goal was to go as high as possible with accuracy. Phil and his brother Nick, his tender and also a bricklayer, came in first out of 30 teams.
Bachetti said, “I feel honored to have been able to compete and surprised that I came in first. This competition is really great for the masonry industry and, hopefully, gets the younger generation interested in bricklaying. I’m excited we did so well and am looking forward to the championship in August.”
Bachetti said the Super Trowel competition, now in its second year, was molded after the Spec Mix competition in Las Vegas.
Though the competition was only one day, Bachetti and his brother spent six days in England, several days seeing the sights, and two days working as masons, without pay, on a construction site. “This was as exciting as the competition because we got to see some of London and work alongside English masons and see how they work. The first day, they didn’t know what to make of us. The second day, they treated us like friends. They joked around with us and we all liked each other very much.”
Bachetti gave them some American masonry tools, which are difficult to get in England, and they gave him some English tools.
The competition was held at Hertford Regional College, which is appropriate because 600 out of the 700 colleges in England teach masonry. “There is a very large need for masons over there because most buildings in England are constructed with brick; very few are built with wood. As a result, the masonry industry is huge in England.”
Bachetti said they saw several differences in English masonry. “They use several different tools and different mortar, but the big take away is that masonry is much more important in England.”
On Aug. 8, Bachetti will compete in the Super Trowel championship competition to vie for being the No. 1 bricklayer in all of England. The championship will include 12 teams and will be held in Milton Keynes not far from London.
Bachetti said he feels honored to be invited back to compete in the championship. “My new English friends joked that I better not beat them at their own game. This competition is good for the masonry industry. Hopefully, this will help get the younger generation interested in masonry. I’m excited we made it this far and I can’t wait to represent the United States.”
With the competition not far off, Bachetti is spending his summer practicing so he will be in top form.
