TEAM Amuso, of Kilmore, represented Australia on the world stage for the third time at Masonary Madness Day, an event coined the Bricklaying Olympics, last Thursday (Australian time).
The Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 was held in Las Vegas, and it is the world’s largest and longest-running bricklaying competition since 2003.
Damian Amuso and his long-time leading hand Scott Law as his mason’s tender competed against other teams to build the highest brick wall in an hour.
The craftsmanship award also matters and following a brief spell while the cement dried, the next part of the competition was to trowel the excess mortar off the wall.
Technical errors, such as uneven bricks, can result in heavy deductions.
On social media Tara Amuso, Damian’s wife, said: “Damian had some deductions due to tipped bricks, as did most walls. The bricks were not soaking up the mortar quickly, but everyone worked under the same conditions.”
Competing in 2025, Damian laid 721 bricks and this year, 737, but lost due to deductions. However, the competition was won by the team working beside them, Grant Helms and Keith Helms from North Carolina, with 726 bricks.
The winners collected a cash prize and also a new 4×4 Chevrolet truck.
Tara said: “Their wall was one of the best and Damian proved himself over the years to be a serious contender. We know that at home when we were doing practice walls, his numbers were higher than what the winning score was. The boys are both keen to compete again, now it’s just whether or not they’ll get the opportunity again.”
