A YOUNG Hatherleigh plumber has returned a little disappointed from the international Skill Olympics in Montreal but he would not have missed the experience for the world.
Danny Anstey was feeling confident prior to the event where he had to compete against 17 of the world's best young plumbers and he had hoped for better than ninth place.
'I expected to do better but I think the pressure got to me a bit,' he said. 'There were a lot of people watching the competition — a quarter of a million spectators attended the event — and subconsciously that got to me. Still I managed to finish the task which was good.'
The competition was over four days but Danny and his British team members, who were competing in skills as varied as hairdressing and computer-aided design, also had time to enjoy the whole experience of being in Canada.
'We were taken out on various trips here, there and everywhere,' he said. 'We saw a lot of Montreal and Quebec and had some free time to go shopping.
'It was a brilliant experience and I am really glad I was part of it — it's just a shame I did not do better. People keep telling me that ninth in the world it not too bad!
Overall the UK came tenth out of 33 countries and returned home with a silver and two bronze medals.
Meanwhile Danny has become the first student of Plymouth College to win four awards including Student of the Year in the Construction Department and the Registered Plumbing Association cup.
Danny has received over £4,000 from competition success, awards and sponsorship and his career has really taken off since winning the UK championship for his pipework in the under 21 section in February.
He aims to take up an offer of a part-time lecturing job at Plymouth College in the future and will continue with his NVQ studies.
Danny works at Lymath and Moys plumbing and heating specialists in Sheepwash.