Barbering students prove they can cut it at national contest

A pair of East Durham College barbering students returned home from a national competition with podium placed finishes for their impressive skills in hair styling.

Karen Scarr, 39, from Peterlee, and Lindsay Ruddock, 18, from Peterlee, won a silver and bronze respectively in the barbering patterns category contest at this year’s Association of Hairdressers and Therapists national finals, which took place recently.

The competition was held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens with the best students in hair, beauty and barbering from across the British Isles competing for top honours in the prestigious annual competition.

Karen and Lindsay may have picked-up top honours, but there were also fantastic performances by all the Peterlee-based college hair and beauty students who took part over the two-day event.

And, the staff at the college were full of praise for their students who took part in the event.

Barbering lecturer Alison Scattergood, said: “We had a brilliant time at Blackpool and it was great to see Karen and Lindsay come away with the second and third places.

“Everyone we took to Blackpool to compete put in fantastic performances and we were unlucky to not come away with many more top places, but the standard was just so high at this competition.

“It gets tougher every year.”

The lecturer went on to say: “It was a great experience for everyone involved and we are sure it will help them to progress further on their courses at the college.”

Hairdressing lecturer Sandra Joyce, who was equally proud of the students, said: “I would just like to say all the students we took to Blackpool were an absolute credit to the college.

“They were so enthusiastic, well-behaved and incredibly focused on their work – well done and thank you for being such great ambassadors to East Durham College.”

For more information on courses in the hair and beauty department at East Durham College, contact the student services team on 0191 518 8222.