SERC Wins Barbering Regional Heat

The Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) consists of teachers, trainers and assessors of hairdressing or therapy subjects, who hold or are working towards teaching/assessing qualifications. They run annual seminars for updating skills, national standards, qualifications, education and training initiatives, host manufacturer talks and specialist demonstrations, as well as organise student competitions.  

At the recent AHT regional heat, colleges from across Northern Ireland entered to compete in the barbering competition. SERC Level 3 barbering students, Blaine McKeown and Charlie Smith, put their skills to the test across two competition categories to complete a finished style on the barbering models.   Judges observed the skills and techniques used throughout both competition categories. 

The first category involved a cut and style - competitors had to produce a masculine commercial hairstyle using traditional barbering tapering skills. The second category was to create a masculine cut and finish hairstyle on a pre-coloured model, with an emphasis on a modern fashion style. Blaine McKeown achieved 1st place in the first competition category and 2nd place in the second competition category, and Charlie Smith achieved 6th place in the first competition category and 4th place in the second competition category. 

Sarah-June Robinson, SERC Lecturer in Hairdressing and Barbering, comments, “I am very proud of both students' performance at the regional heat. The SERC students went up against skilled barbers from other NI colleges and performed very well in their cutting and styling. These competitions are great opportunities to showcase the expertise we are cultivating in the next generation of barbers at SERC. Both students are currently completing the full-time Level 3 Barbering qualification and are exceptionally talented young barbers, they are a pleasure to teach.”. 

Blaine McKeown, along with his model and Sarah-June Robinson, will now travel to the competition finals on 9th May in Norcalympia Festival Hall in Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool. SERC wishes Blaine the best of luck.   

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