Gavin Matthews, from Lowlands, was named the winner of the 2017 Toyota SA Young Auctioneers Competition, held at the ALFA show in Parys in the Free State, on September 12.

Selected from a crop of hopefuls at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg earlier this year, Mr Matthews represented KwaZulu-Natal at the event, which aims to promote the livestock auctioneering profession. Participants were judged according to rostrum performance, and livestock knowledge.

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The runners-up in the 30-years and older category were Mechiel Groenewald and Jurie Burger, both from the Free State.

Mr Matthews, who showed off his skills during a fundraising auction at the Royal Agricultural Society Gold Cup dinner during the Royal Show, will represent South Africa in an international competition in Argentina next year.

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In the junior section, two Weston Agricultural College learners, Fiso Hadebe and Wandile Nzimande, who qualified for the finals during the Royal Show, came second and third, respectively. The winner was Hertie Lerm from the Western Cape.

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The competition was initiated in 2013 by Veeplaas and Stockfarm magazines.

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