Budding auctioneers to show off sales skills at Tattersals competition

With auction rooms up and down the country quieter than cabins on the Marie Celeste since the property crash, under-the-hammer property sales are at an all time low. Full marks then must go to the youth wing of IPAV (Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers) for bringing a bit of chutzpah to proceedings with its latest wheeze.

The Young Professionals Network is hosting a competition in January for budding auctioneers to demonstrate their saleroom skills in the prestigious surrounds of Tattersals Ireland. The venue, more usually associated with sales of top class National Hunt and Flat horses, will provide an excellent - and slightly daunting - backdrop for budding auctioneers to demonstrate their skills.

“This competition will involve a bidding sequence organised to demonstrate likely situations in the salesroom and to test the competitor’s skill, knowledge and presence on the rostrum,” says Niamh Giffney, chairwoman of IPAV’S Young Professionals Network and an auctioneer at DNG Royal County in Navan.

Aspiring auctioneers will have a number of lots to auction in various categories to include property, chattels, livestock, machinery and fine art. Entrants must have a PSRA (Property Services Regulatory Authority) licence and no more than five auctions, at most, already undertaken.

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The competition takes place on January 25th and will be whittled down to a final three, with the winner to be announced at a Gala Dinner that evening. The winner will receive a week at the America’s Auction Academy. On completion they will receive a diploma in rostrum auctioneering.

Entry forms can be downloaded on ipav.ie.