By Sacha Delfosse
Bartenders from Australia and New Zealand gathered at the Paddington Arms Hotel in Sydney on March 13 to compete in the first Bar Pro Australia competition for 2011.
Some of Australia’s best flair tenders, including Noriel Calub, Dennis Gray, Robbie Stowe (one of the organisers of the event), Marsellas Heleta, Sean Lowrey, Ravi Camadoo, Brad Dickman, Ben Evans-Fong, Mike Wiri and Jay Karanouh were given five minutes to impress and entertain the judges, and the large crowd.
Melbourne’s Dennis Gray emerged as the champion, with Ravi Camadoo coming in a close second. Robbie Stowe and Jay Karanouh ended up equal third, leading to an impressive impromptu ‘flair battle’ between the two, judged by the crowd and won by Stowe.
Ravi Camadoo, Dennis Gray and Robbie Stowe with Andrew Lee.
“We were really happy with the crowd turn out and participation at the event, it was an excellent test for the new Bar Pro rules, and the little battle between Robbie and Jay was awesome,” said organiser and head judge Andrew Lee.
“I want to thank all the participants and the people that came down to watch as well as our guest judges and also our sponsors- Havana Club, Bar Pro and the Australian Bartenders Guild.”
There will be two more Bar Pro competitions held later this year, which will be used to decide who will be representing Australia at the global finals to be held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.