Campbell Wins 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500

Words: Dan Kamys

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500

[caption id="attachment_8898" align="alignnone" width="605"]SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Champions Fred Campbell and Tony Shelton with their entourage of family and friends next to Tony’s prize, the 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty Truck SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Champions Fred Campbell and Tony Shelton with their entourage of family and friends next to Tony’s prize, the 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty Truck[/caption] Nearly 4,000 spectators gathered to watch the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship event, held during MASONRY MADNESS Day at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry tradeshow in February. The competition pits some of the world’s best masons in one arena for a 60-minute battle that determines the “World’s Best Bricklayer.” [caption id="attachment_8897" align="alignnone" width="605"]A wide shot of the Masonry Madness arena that hosts the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship competition A wide shot of the Masonry Madness arena that hosts the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship competition[/caption] The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 competition had a record high 24 competitors vying for the top title World’s Best Bricklayer. One mason traveled 7,500 miles to compete. New to the World Championship event this year was the promotion and fundraiser for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation – a non-profit educational foundation that focuses on providing funds for the post-secondary education of surviving children of members of the U.S. Military who have lost their lives in the line of duty. An online auction was hosted by SPEC MIX Inc. to raise money and create awareness of this worthy cause. Representatives and beneficiaries of Fallen Patriots were introduced to the crowd during the event. Several of the cosponsors of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship donated items to the online auction as well as direct money contributions to the foundation. [caption id="attachment_8893" align="alignnone" width="605"]The 2015 Winners circle (left to right): Brian Tuttle – SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER, Brian Wade – 3rd place mason, Brandy Noble – 3rd place mason tender, Fred Campbell – 1st place mason, Tony Shelton – 1st place mason tender, Garrett Hood – SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN and 2nd place mason, and Ed Huntley – SPEC MIX TOP CRAFSTMAN and 2nd place mason tender The 2015 Winners circle (left to right): Brian Tuttle – SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER, Brian Wade – 3rd place mason, Brandy Noble – 3rd place mason tender, Fred Campbell – 1st place mason, Tony Shelton – 1st place mason tender, Garrett Hood – SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN and 2nd place mason, and Ed Huntley – SPEC MIX TOP CRAFSTMAN and 2nd place mason tender[/caption] First place winner Fred Campbell of Tennessee laid 743 bricks and won a Ford F-250 Super Duty truck and more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. This was Campbell’s sixth attempt at competing in the World Championship contest, and in 2013 he also won first place. This year, Campbell walked into the competition arena 65 pounds lighter and vowed that when he won, he would give the keys to the Ford F-250 truck to his best friend and mason tender, Tony Shelton. He kept that promise. Learn more about his winnings and prizes for his 1st Place win at specmixbricklayer500.com. [caption id="attachment_8894" align="alignleft" width="175"]Brian Carney, of SPEC MIX, interviewing Rolly Cox on a Multiquip auction item, the Essick EM70SH8 Mortar Mixer Brian Carney, of SPEC MIX, interviewing Rolly Cox on a Multiquip auction item, the Essick EM70SH8 Mortar Mixer[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8899" align="alignleft" width="175"]STIHL, a SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 sponsor, presenting a donation check to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation STIHL, a SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 sponsor, presenting a donation check to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8900" align="alignleft" width="175"]Third place mason Brian Wade and his mason tender, Brandy Noble, with the SPEC MIX trophy and prize check in the amount of $3,000 Third place mason Brian Wade and his mason tender, Brandy Noble, with the SPEC MIX trophy and prize check in the amount of $3,000[/caption] Garrett Hood, with Huntley Brothers from Monroe, N.C., took 2nd place overall and the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award with 723 bricks. His mason tender was Ed Huntley. Learn more about his winnings and prizes for the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award and his 2nd Place win at specmixbricklayer500.com. [caption id="attachment_8892" align="alignleft" width="175"]Kentucky mason Brian Wade took home the 3rd place overall by laying 666 bricks in his first appearance at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championships. Kentucky mason Brian Wade took home the 3rd place overall by laying 666 bricks in his first appearance at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championships.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8896" align="alignleft" width="175"]Mason Fred Campbell focusing as he lays another line of bricks in his winning wall Mason Fred Campbell focusing as he lays another line of bricks in his winning wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8891" align="alignleft" width="175"]North Carolina mason Garrett Hood (right) won the 2015 SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award and 2nd place overall by laying 723 bricks with his mason tender, Ed Huntley (left). North Carolina mason Garrett Hood (right) won the 2015 SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award and 2nd place overall by laying 723 bricks with his mason tender, Ed Huntley (left).[/caption] Third Place overall was Brian Wade who laid 666 bricks. Wade is from Stanton, Ky., and the first from that state to place at the World Championship competition. His mason tender was Brandy Noble of Wade Masonry. Learn about their winnings and prizes at specmixbricklayer500.com. [caption id="attachment_8895" align="alignright" width="350"]Brian Tuttle competing for the SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER title Brian Tuttle competing for the SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER title[/caption] The 2015 SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER winner was Brian Tuttle, with Quik Trowel Masonry located in Clearfield, Utah. This undercard contest for mason tenders focuses on the mason tender preparing the mason’s work area in a detailed and pre-defined way in the fastest time possible. Tuttle was tending mason for his brother, Scott, who won the Utah regional qualifying contest. He claimed this year’s title by completing the job in 18 minutes, 7 seconds. Learn about his winnings at specmixbricklayer500.com. For more information, visit www.specmixbricklayer500.com. Return to Table of Contents
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