Sharon can see the wood in the trees

Sharon Westcough switched from steel works to wood works when she entered the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) competition as a student of the University of Teesside and clinched the first prize of a four-day, all expenses paid trip to Finland.

The 37-year-old from Redcar is a Senior Civil/Structural Designer with Eutech and a part-time student on the University's BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering and Building course.

Sharon had to design a small boat club control centre and timber decking to get first prize of £125 and a trip to a timber mill and veneer factory in Finland. She was the only individual entrant winner, with second and third places going to groups of four.

She said: "I am thrilled to have won this competition. As a civil and structural designer by profession I'm more used to working with steel than wood. One of the beauties of this course is the application of different structural materials and that has paid off with my competition win.

"I don't think I can fit my boat house design in to my own back garden it would have to be more changing homes than changing gardens!"

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