Yes, they’re actually saying actual words and sentences, it’s just on double speed.
In a congregation of almost 40 realtors from across New Zealand and Australia, the Learn, Vision, Develop (LVD) World Auctioneering Championships wrapped up on Tuesday in Queenstown, offering not only cash prizes, but a heap of learning.
The top honour went to Auckland’s Conor Patton, from Bayleys Realty, who won the open category and $1000 for the fourth consecutive year.
EVES Real Estate’s Louis McDonald, from Whangarei, took out the senior division and the $500 prize, while Property Brokers Gisborne’s Tom Lane was the victorious novice, winning his own gavel.
The 39 competitors descended on Queenstown’s Rydges hotel from last Sunday, and were tested and judged across the board, including putting their own personal spin on auctioneering.
To keep it interesting, auctioneers only heard the property’s reserve just before hitting the floor, while planted bidders with scripts were in the crowd.
World champs co-organiser, real estate guru Mark Sumich, of Auckland, says it’s ‘‘all about the individuality and nuances that they bring to the game, and we want ingenuity, we want different, we want those particular parts of their character to come forward’’.
It’s also an opportunity for entrants to learn new skills to improve their game and career as a whole, under a heap of pressure.
Event manager Julia Rust says the championships are about testing the auctioneers ‘‘up against your peers, to see if you can get better’’.
Each year the champion ships attract hundreds of guests and tens of thousands of online and video viewers, and help prepare auctioneers for the upcoming competition calendar.
