The Chairman’s award is awarded to a Brickshire member who has displayed their MOC at any event at which more than Brickshire MOC is displayed. Any MOC of any size will automatically be entered if it meets the criteria. For the purpose of the award, the MOC can be a combination of sets which have been modified for display, a MOC based on something or a completely original build. So give it a go. Build anything from a sofa to a large scale scene and then get down to an event and put it on display. Even the master builders started somewhere.
The first winner of the chairman’s award is Marcin Witkiewicz for his exquisite Warsaw Palace. The reason this MOC stood out for me was the attention to detail, a feature of all Marcin’s models if I am honest. However this one is different as the detail isn’t instantly noticeable. It is only after the MOC draws you in that you recognise the complex techniques used. There is such a touch of class and elegance to this MOC that it just makes you sit back and say ‘wow’. I will openly admit that historical buildings are not my thing, nor would I have imagined that I would pick this MOC over others. A wonderful MOC, and I take my hat off to Marcin; congratulations on winning the first ever Brickshire Chairman’s award.
Runner up at YBS 2016 has to go Sally Mansfield-O’Donnell’s Chocolate Room. It was quite a close run thing, and not just because it was right in front of me, but for completely different reasons. I am sure some will admire the many different sections of the MOC, or Sally’s interpretation of an iconic scene. For me it was how it drew in the audience, children and adults and the constant ‘ooos’ and ‘ahhhs’ and “Its Charlie and the chocolate factory, look at him getting sucked up the tube!” I could go on. Sometimes it’s not just about the techniques, the choice of colours or even the skill level. It has to be how it is received. On another day this would have won hands down, so congratulations go to Sally for an excellent MOC.