Forden Farriers Achievements in 2008 |
| 2008 has been a successful one for Jim Blurton and the team at Forden Farriers. It started early for many of the team with the Ayrshire Branch Competitition on the 4th & 5th April. Ricky Hilton started the competition season well being crowned overall apprentice championwith Julia Cheney finishing in the top five. Will Grattam also impressed the judges at the competition and was unlucky not to come away with any prizes. |
(Ricky Hilton) |
| It was then the turn of Jim to impress in the European Farriers Championship held at Hansepferd, Hamburg on the 18th, 19th April. As part of the British team Jim helped clinch the European Team title for Great Britain and a fine performance saw him finish fourth in the individual competition behind England's Steven Beane who was crowned European Champion. |
| Leicester County Show, 4th - 5th May, was the next destination and Ricky again took the honours with Julia Cheney a close fourth. |
| Devon County Show, 15th - 17th May, quickly followed and once again Ricky took the honours with some superb shoemaking. Forden Farriers Director, Elgan Harries, started his campaign with some fantastic shoeing winning the Hunter shoeing class. After two days of gruelling competiton he was crowned Open Reserve Champion being narrowly beaten by his Welsh team mate Nigel Brown. |
(The Specimen that won Elgan the Hunter Shoeing Class at Devon)
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| Ricky, and his close friend and rival Ben Casserly, both sponsored by Jim Blurton Farrier Tools, would spend most of the year contesting the major events. However, Julia Cheney would fight them all the way for honours and at Stafford County Show, 28th & 29th May, she won the Restricted Roadster Shoeing competition. |
(Julia Cheney receives her prize from judge, Carl Bettison)
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| Next on the honours list was Jim. A top class field from all over Europe gathered at the prestigious Bath & West Show. After four hard fought days of competition a masterly display of shoemaking and shoeing saw Jim crowned Show Champion. |
(Jim Blurton receiving his prizes at the Royal Bath & West)
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| The success was infectious and by the time the Three Counties Show, 13th - 15th June, arrived the Forden team were in full swing. Another masterful display of shoemaking and shoeing saw Jim again crowned overall Show Champion. Not to be outdone the international members of our team took first and third place in the Restricted Hunter Shoeing competition. Simen Krog our Norwegian International gained the honours with our adopted Kiwi Gary Morley finishing third. Katie Grose also joined the roll of honour with a superb victory in the 2nd year apprentice class. |
(Simen Krog competing at the Three Counties) |
| The Royal Show, 3rd - 6th July, was was the next target and Ricky again showed his talents being crowned Reserve Apprentice Champion behind Ben Casserly with Julia finishing third. Jim was not to be out done and won the Best Shod Foot for the second year running. |
(Jim's Best Shod Foot) |
| Newport Show, 19th July, saw Elgan demonstrate some superb shoemaking and shoeing skills to take the title of overall Champion. This success was quickly followed at the Royal Welsh Show, 21st - 24th July.Competing in the only 4 days of hot weather Wales has seen this year Elgan won the Open Shoemaking and was second in the Open Hunter competition. Julia also had a superb show and put in an excellent performance to be crowned Apprentice Champion. |
(Elgan Harries) |
| The Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Shoemaking Competition, 26th July, one of the most keenly contested shoemaking competitions of the year, with a prize fund of over £10,000 and over 100 competitors saw Forden Farriers take a strong team. Fresh from the Royal Show and keen to avenge his defeat at the hands of Ben Casserly, Ricky put in some excellent performances throughout the day and was dully rewarded with third and fourth year apprentice Champion with Ben third and Julia a close fourth. Katie was not to be out done after finished a creditable 9th in the first and second year apprentice championships. Simen Krog lead the way in the restricted championship for most of the day but narrowly missed out on the championship by just 1 point. His Reserve Champion was credit to him in his debut in this competition. Dai Calko also performed well in the third and fourth year apprentice classes narrowly missing out on the prizes. |
(Davey Calko)
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| The Lowther Horse Shoeing and Shoemaking Competition, Saturday 9th August, saw the return of the "dream team" in the form of Ricky and Jim.Successful in last years Master and Apprentice at Hereford they once again paired up to contest this keenly fought competition. It was again a successful partnership winning the Two Man Roadster Shoeing and gaining the prize for the Best Dressed Feet. |
| Peover Shoemaking Competition, 17th August, saw Ricky continue his good form winning the Apprentice Championship with Simen finishing an excellent fourth in the Open competition. |
| The World Team Championships saw Wales wrestle the title away from England. As a stalwart of the team for over 20 years Jim was honoured to be Manger this year and collect the trophy. The championships saw teams from all over the world compete for this sought after title. Three days of fierce competiton saw Wales clinch the title with a fantastic final days performance. |
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(The successful Welsh Team, l - r:
Grant Moon, Billy Crothers, Jim Blurton and Andy Martin) |
| The competition season has not ended yet but so far it has been a very successful year for all involved at Forden Farriers.It was made even better with the annoucement of Jim winning the Best Shod Eventer at the recent CCI**** Burghley Horse Trials, which complements the success he had at Gatcombe Park where he also won the Best Shod Eventer. |
