Man sets record for laying 859 bricks in just one hour

Dale Wherton set a new British and European record when he won the "superbowl of bricklaying" - AKA the "Super Trowel".

Amazing time-lapse footage shows how he beat out 15 other competitors to take home the title at Hertfordshire Showground, in St Albans, on August 1.

The 35-year-old will now travel to America to take on other world champion brickies in Las Vegas next year.

Dale said it was a "dream come true" to win Super Trowel 2026 after falling in love with competitive bricklaying at college aged 15.

The dad-to-be practiced for the event using bricks and training mortar at West Nottinghamshire College where he tutors brickwork students.

Dale previously worked in bricklaying as a contractor for two decades, including working in Australia for seven of them.

Dale, originally from Stoke-on-Trent and now living in Derby, said: "I've worked in the trade for about 20 years.

"As soon as I put a trowel in my hand at college I knew that was what I was going to do for the rest of my working career.

"Six months ago I started working as a college tutor and that gave me a space to be able to train properly for competitive bricklaying.

"We have test walls with training mortar which doesn't set so we can put up and take down as many walls as we like.

"I remember 20 years ago my college tutor showed me this event in Vegas and I thought I'd really love to do that one day.

"When the Super Trowel event started a few years ago I began training for speed and endurance racing.

"The first couple of years I had issues going on in the background with my own businesses, so I didn't perform as well as I could.

"I still managed to win my regional qualifiers but I know I could offer more.

"Only one other Englishman has won it before, as the Americans have dominated the last couple of years.

"I managed to set a new British record and a European record with my time and it was an incredible feeling.

"It was more relief than anything to see all that hard work, time and dedication pay off.

"Going to Vegas to compete is what I've dreamed of doing since I was 15.

"Even the world's best boxers dream of going to Las Vegas to compete and now I'm doing it to lay bricks.

"To any youngsters wanting to get into competitive brick-laying, I think the key is consistency and practice.

"Don't be in the pub until 10 p.m. every night, health, fitness and stamina are important.

"It becomes almost muscle memory. You'll be surprised what your body is capable of doing."

Dale will now travel to Vegas in January to go up against other world champions in the Spec Mix brickwork 500 competition.

He added: "It's great to get exposure for the construction industry and showcase it on a world stage.

"But I'll be going there as an Englishman trying to win it. I'm feeling confident.

"It's a nice thing to put my name on the map and I won't be going there just to make up the numbers."