Lots of action was guaranteed on October 21, 2023 in the Arena Nova in Wiener Neustadt: The strongest bricklayers and structural engineers in the country competed against each other in five sweaty disciplines in the third edition of the Wienerberger Bricklayer Pentathlon. Marco Hertscheg from Tyrol from the company Huter & Söhne was able to prevail against his competitors and secured the title of „Strongest Bricklayer in Austria“ for the first time.
Strength, endurance and skill were the focus of the third edition of the spectacular Wienerberger bricklayer pentathlon, which took place on October 21, 2023 in Wiener Neustadt. 25 athletes entered the race to compete against each other in the five disciplines of „stessn“, „trogn“, „hoitn“ and „stemman“ bricks, as well as „anzwerfen“ a target with mortar.
Photos: Wienerberger Austria/ Michael Meindl
The winner of the competition was Marco Hertscheg from the company Huter & Söhne, who brought the title of “Austria’s Strongest Wall” to Tyrol for the first time. Second place went to Thomas Tröber, also from the company Huter & Söhne in Innsbruck. Third place went to Josip Draksic from Vienna from the company DCRO Bau in Vienna-Liesing.
Full audience and top prizes
The competition was moderated by Alexander Roncevic, this year’s head judge and vice world champion of the trend sport Hyrox, and Tom „The Voice“ Bläumaurer. Together they created an excellent atmosphere in the packed audience, which encouraged the bricklayers to achieve top performances.
The winners of the first three places received specially made trophies made of mini bricks and Engelbert Strauss vouchers, which were presented by Wienerberger Managing Director Johann Marchner and Sales Manager for the Wall Division Gerhard Staudinger. All participating athletes received goodie bags filled with finisher shirts, medals and gifts from Wienerberger, Red Bull and Engelbert Strauss.
„This year’s bricklayer pentathlon has once again demonstrated the extraordinary sporting achievements that Austria’s bricklayers and structural engineers are capable of. I am delighted that we are celebrating the third edition of the competition and have once again provided a stage for this important professional sector of our industry. The stands were filled to the last seat – the atmosphere was fantastic,“ says Johann Marchner, Managing Director of Wienerberger Austria.
The disciplines of the Maurer Pentathlon in detail
The candidates of the Maurer Pentathlon competed against each other and were able to compete with their competitors in the following five different disciplines:
“Trogn”: Four building materials of increasing weight must be lifted from a one-meter-high platform and carried 8 to 10 meters. Only one object may be carried per run.
“Stessn”: A Wienerberger brick is thrown as far as possible with one arm from a standing position. The longest throw of two attempts is counted.
“Hoitn”: A Wienerberger brick is held in front of the body for as long as possible. The candidates of the Wienerberger bricklayer pentathlon competed against each other in five different disciplines.
“Stemman”: A 40 kg barrel must be lifted from the ground above the head.
“Throwing”: Already mixed mortar (4 kg) must be thrown precisely through an opening on a target; behind the opening, a scale weighs the mortar.
