Participants go under the hammer at the 2019 Auctioneering Championships

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Oct 23, 2019

Participants go under the hammer at the 2019 Auctioneering Championships

Contestants lined up today for their chance to come away with the top prize at this year's Australasian Real Estate Institute's 2019 Auctioneering Championships.

REIA

Last year's auctioneer champion Clarence White

Australia and New Zealand have clashed again with the best Australasian auctioneers going head to head at the 2019 Australasian Real Estate Institutes’ Auctioneering Championships with the winner to be crowned Australasia’s best auctioneer at the REIV Awards dinner to be held in the Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers Melbourne.

This year's competition is being co-hosted by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria and today's heats will have whittled the competition down to five finalists who will compete from 1.30pm tomorrow at Federation Square.

“Some of the fastest motormouths in the business have been put through their paces at the Australasian Auctioneering Champs in Melbourne," said REIV CEO Gil King.

“The very best auctioneers from across Australia and New Zealand are taking part.”

“There is a lot of pressure on auctioneers; they have to sell the property, keep track of the bids, control the tempo of the auction, entertain the crowd and push for the best price possible.”

Contestants were given a rundown on a property in picturesque Mt Eliza, which was put up for mock auction.

“They were then rushed to Fed Square, put into lockdown and given time to prepare," said Mr King.

“Competitors are used to conducting an auction in front of a property, this contest sees them compete in front of a packed room, a panel of judges, cameras and bright lights.”

“During the mock auction, many curly questions and peculiar bid amounts were thrown at the auctioneers, to keep them on their toes.”

Mr King said the standard of auctioneering was outstanding and he congratulated each of them for a great job.

The order of the draw was set the night before and the following contestants performed for the judges.

Competitor 1 - Paul Tzamalis - VIC

Competitor 2 - Sam Woolcock - TAS