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A cut above
Super stylist Wendy Croall showed she can cut through the competition by bringing triple honours home from the European Hairdressing Championships.
Wendy of St Leonard's Road West, St Annes, won a silver and two bronze medals at the competition in Athens.
And she was the first young British hairdresser for 20 years to win a silver in the day section of the artistic ladies day-into-evening category.
Her boss and mentor, Stephen Cole, was awarded two bronze medals as trainer of the highly successful national team.
With 25 countries competing for honours, Wendy faced a tough challenge but showed she can measure up against the best in the style stakes.
She's delighted with her results. "It's pretty amazing," she said.
Wendy is relatively new to the competition arena.
"I did a couple of competitions when I was 17, but stopped to concentrate on general hairdressing skills.
"It's only in the last couple of years I have been competing more seriously.
"It's good for my skills, good for my career, and I really enjoy it.
"Hairdressing is my work and my hobby!"
Wendy, a former pupil of Lytham St Annes High School, has worked at Stephen Cole's salon in Church Road, St Annes, for eight years. "I started work the week after I
finished my GCSEs," she said.
Having taken triple European honours, Wendy now has her sights set on the World Championships, to be held in Paris, and her ultimate goal – a gold medal.
"I want to do as well as I can in competitions and the be as good at my job as I can be. That's what really matters."
Wendy, competing in the under 25s team, said all the young stylists worked well together.
"Stephen is our trainer and we get on really well. You have to be very focused on what your are doing."
There wasn't time to make a style statement with her own hair at the championships.
"I had it tied up in a ponytail. I must have looked a real mess!"
Competitions are also a ticket to travel both at home and abroad – last year Wendy was in the junior team at the World Championships in Chicago. Stephen, a leading member of the British Hairdressing Federation was a multi-award winner when he competed at the highest level, and is a judge and trainer.
He likes to encourage new talent. "Wendy has done exceptionally well. We have a very good national team," he added.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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