AUSSIE FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN THE IRWIN ULTIMATE TRADESMAN CHALLENGE WORLD FINAL
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Phoenix, AZ. November 10, 2008: Western Australian carpenter Nathan Vander Wielden has finished runner-up in the IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge world final in Phoenix Arizona in the US today.
The 27 year-old from Eaton near Bunbury went head to head in the final with North American champion Eric Howard and was beaten to the line by a fraction of a second.
As part of his ultimate prize, Howard got to choose a bag from one of 26 on display and inside was a cheque for $US20,000.
Vander Wielden had a small Australian cheer squad at the final, including Aussie NASCAR ace Marco Ambrose who attended the decider to give his countryman a little pre-event ‘pep-talk’.
Later he also got to spend some time in the pit bay of IRWIN Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup star Jamie McMurray, who finished third at today’s penultimate round of the 2008 championship.
“What a fantastic experience,” said Vander Wielden.
“It would have been unbelievable to win and pick out the bag with the giant cheque, but to be truthful this whole experience has been a real fairytale.
“I have to thank everyone at IRWIN for putting the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge together in Australia and for their hospitality and organsation of the US trip. My wife Jacqui and I have had a fantastic time, met some terrific people and just learned so much.
“IRWIN not only make the best tools in the world, but they have some of the best and most professional people in the business. I would recommend this competition to anyone.”
The IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is strongly associated with the company’s NASCAR and V8 Supercar motorsport commitments in both the US and Australia respectively.
Vander Wielden and his wife Jacqui arrived in the US on Thursday and were involved in a host of pre-event activities including an official welcome dinner and a Hummer desert tour.
Vander Wielen won the Australia / New Zealand segment of the competition at the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercar event last month.
IRWIN Industrial Tools, has been searching for the Top Tradesman since March with the second annual Ultimate Tradesman Challenge.
The competition is a timed event in which participants compete using an IRWIN STRAIT-LINE chalk reel, IRWIN tape measure and SPEEDBOR Max wood boring bit to mark, measure and drill a piece of wood on specially-designed work bench.
Following the success of the 2007 competition in the U.S., IRWIN extended the 2008 competition internationally and broadened the search to include Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This year over 10,000 tradesmen have competed in 200 local events in 37 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, Australia and New Zealand.
“The IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge has been a tremendous success and we are delighted that Nathan could go head to head in today’s world final,” said IRWIN Australia’s Nick Pritchard.
“Nathan has been a fantastic ambassador for IRWIN and Australia.
“We are already planning on how we can improve on the competition for 2009 which will kick off at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in March for Australian competitors.”
PROFILE Name: Nathan Vander Wielen Age: 27 Resides: Eaton (Outside Bunbury, West Australia) Marital Status: Married to Jacqui Occupation: Carpenter Years in the trade: 11 years - started at 15 Employer: Self employed with two apprentices Interests: Pit crew for speedway team and jet skiing Ultimate Tradesman Challenge titles: Western Australia winner - Barbagallo Raceway 9-11 May Australia / New Zealand winner - Bathurst 9-12 October Goal for World Final: Bring the trophy to Australia Moto: Have fun! Other Notes: Before Bathurst final had never been outside Western Australia. Both he and his wife had to arrange their passports for the trip to the USA.