NZ champs to represent at Australasian comp

Wednesday 6 July, 2011 For immediate release Harcourts

NZ champs to represent at Australasian comp

Harcourts auctioneers placed well in yesterdays 2011 REINZ National Real Estate Auctioneers Championships, with auctioneers from within the group being named winner and runner-up in novice and senior categories.

Harcourts Mairangi Bay Auctioneer Richard Kerr convincingly won the novice competition ahead of fellow Harcourts contestant, Kerry McCormick of Tauranga; the only two Harcourts contestants competing in a field 15 strong. While Harcourts Mairangi Bay Manager and Auctioneer Andrew North was narrowly defeated and placed as runner up in the seniors section.

Richard Kerr featured midfield with a great opening preamble for a Takapuna property. He had the crowd laughing with comments such as, „no bidding at an auction is like no snow at a Winterfest.” His big stature matched didnt overwhelm as he confidently delivered an engaging number sequence with perfection, seeming to own the stage from the moment he walked out.

Richard says winning the national novice competition this year has strengthened his resolve to focus on auctioneering full-time.

“Ive been interested in auctioneering for some time and having gained experience as a Sales Consultant in a company with a strong auction focus Ive had the advantage of being able to train as an auctioneer with some of the best in the country."

Kerry McCormick and Richard Kerr were early on in the day avoiding the 8 hour wait some contestants had in a lockup, designed to keep competitors isolated from knowing bidding patterns or questions to be asked by pre-organised bidders in the audience.

Although smooth in his delivery, his energetic performance did not rattle with questions from bidders relating to the new GST laws which tripped up other contestants. While the novice competition ran as a straight final, the seniors battled over a day with only four contestants qualifying day ones heats for day twos nerve racking final. Runner-up Andrew North displayed a commanding performance and had the crowd laughing with creative prose linking the vendors 17 nieces and nephews with their love of The Cat in the Hat books.

Finalists Robert Tulp manager of Harcourts Mairangi Bay and Campbell Dunoon, an ex-Harcourts agent hotly contested the coveted prize.

Mark Sumich from Sumich Estate Agents & Auctioneers claimed the upset win of the competition narrowly claiming the prize in the senior section.

Harcourts New Zealand CEO Hayden Duncan says he is very proud of the Harcourts auctioneers who have been judged to be the best of the best in New Zealand.

“Five years ago auctioneers were on a very different level than today. Now a great auctioneer needs to be engaging and facilitate an open environment. This level of success in a national, industry-wide competition is a testament to the strong auction focus within Harcourts and the investment made in developing our auctioneers along with the hard work and talent of the highly-skilled Harcourts auctioneers involved. The annual auctioneer competition, held at the Ellerslie Event Centre in Auckland yesterday, has qualified Richard Kerr, Kerry McCormick Mark Sumich and Andrew North to represent New Zealand in the Australasian Auctioneering Championships being held in Melbourne on 12-13 September.

ENDS

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