HAIRDRESSER John Beirne, whose St Helens salon has won numerous prestige awards, is planning to temporarily 'retire' from competition in his bid to become a fully-trained competition judge.

John, who owns Avanti Hair Team in Westfield Street, will become a 'trainee juror' at the Yorkshire Hairdressing Championships in Halifax next month.

The talented stylist, who has won more than 100 awards and championship titles along with his team in the last 17 years, said: "This has been a difficult decision and it will be a little bit strange not taking part. I felt that some of the judges had been around too long and we needed a change. Hopefully, now I will be able to give new ideas to competition work and encourage more people to enter."

John's training will take one to two years and after he becomes a fully-fledged judge he will be able to start competing again. He added: "Apprentices at Avanti will continue to take part in competition work but I won't be judging their sections."

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