HONING his skills at York College helped stonemason Michael Goulding win a prestigious international award.

Michael, a former stonemasonry student at the college, finished sixth in the world at the International Skill Build Finals held in South Korea.

He left York College in 1998 after obtaining an NVQ Level III in stonemasonry, but returned to get some one-to-one tuition from York College tutors before going to the finals.

Michael, who had to complete a stonemasonry task using marble, was one of just 16 competitors at the competition to be awarded a diploma of excellence for outstanding achievement, and he thanked his college tutors, Paul Handley and Kevin Calpin.

He said: "Everyone was under the most intense pressure, with thousands of onlookers watching. The competition piece was in marble and I was competing against countries who work in marble all the time - for me it was a first."

During his time at the college Michael won the York Guild of Building Silver medal. He now works in Oldham.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, October 06, 2001