Competition Results 2011

Competition Results 2011 have been sponsored by Jim Blurton Specialist Shoes, the leading supplier of bar shoes by a World Class farrier.

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Quick Jump List

YFEDA Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Open Hunter Shoeing Championships
27th November 2011

1st - Steve Beane   45.5
2nd - Gary Darlow   45.0
3rd - Matt Randels 42.8

Yorkshire Farrier Supplies Apprentice Championship 1st/2nd years
1st - Alex Jew
2nd - Pikie Leadbetter
3rd - Jake c/o Mattison

Yorkshire Farrier Supplies Apprentice Championship 3rd/4th year
1st - Ben Grange
2nd - Sean Moonie
3rd - Robbie Watson - Greaves

Londonderry Forge Supplies Gas Forging class
Open - Gary Darlow
Apprentice - Ben Grange
Mudras Speciality Forging Class - Ben Grange
 
Thanks also to our other kind sponsors Rectory Gas Supplies and Swan Portaforges 
 

Stromsholm's 9th Apprentice Club Seminar
29th October 2011

With just over 100 pre registered apprentices, the 9th Stromsholm apprentice seminar held at the BFBA Headquarters at Stoneleigh was the most successful ever.

The day was all about education, with six distinguished farriers on hand to give a mixture of lectures, demonstrations and mock oral exams.

As always, the day started with a multiple choice theory paper which everyone completed.

The 1st and 2nd year’s were under the watchful eye of John Suttey AWCF (a part time lecturer at Warwickshire College) who explained the importance of tool maintenance and basic shoemaking. The 1st year’s were asked to make a pair of unclipped front shoes, while the 2nd year’s were asked to make a pair of plain stamped hind shoes, toe clipped. John also gave a power-point presentation and shoemaking demonstration to back up the basics of good shoemaking.

Jonathan Nunn AWCF looked after the 3rd year’s, giving a shoemaking demonstration and advice on fullering and side clipping front shoes.

All the 4th year’s had an opportunity to have a face to face mock oral (similar to the DipWCF exam) with either Doug Bradbury FWCF, Andrew Poynton FWCF or Simon Curtis BSc (Hons) Hon Assoc RCVS FWCF. The apprentices were asked to discuss different topics such as X-rays, shoes, anatomy and the function of the hoof and leg. As always this was one of the most beneficial parts of the day for many of the apprentices.

In the afternoon all the 4th year apprentices were given a dead leg to which they had to make and fit a shoe. Both Simon Curtis and Andrew Poynton were on hand to judge the shoe in three sections –
1. Forging of the shoe
2. Size of shoe
3. Fit of the shoe and extra advice regarding foot preparations

Christoph Muller, a farrier from Germany was also on hand as a representative of one of the sponsors, Vettec. Christoph was able to give the 4th year’s valuable tips on how to get the best out of these products. Later in the day, Christoph gave a power-point presentation to the younger apprentices about Vettec products.
While the results from the day’s shoemaking were being added up, Andrew Poynton addressed all the apprentices and gave them a very detailed presentation on the correct use of modern materials, showing a number of interesting case histories.

The final lecture of the day was by Simon Curtis who concentrated on the subject of foot balance. With the use of slow motion video and graphics, Simon was able to keep the apprentices attention while going into the detail of proper hoof balance.

As always, many thanks to the lecturers, sponsors and the Stromsholm team for putting on such an interesting and educational day.

Some Results

1st Years
1st - Joe Welling          31 points
2nd - Henry Crawford  30-8 points
3rd - Sam Crompton       30-4 points

2nd Years
1st - Jake Leadbitter     33-5 points
2nd - Jack Young          32-3 points  
3rd - Richard Hobson   31-4 points

3rd Years
1st - Michael Hylands   32-1 points
2nd - Bruce Morcom     32    points
3rd - Joel Baker             31-6 points

4th Years
1st - Andy Robinson      57     points
2nd - Adam Ilkston         56-5 points
3rd - Anthony Mckenzie 56    points

Top theory marks
1st Year - Henry Crawford  15 marks
2nd Year - Jake Leadbitter   17 marks
3rd Year - Bruce Morcom    16 marks
4th Year - Ryan Derbyshire  19 marks

Best Oral
Steven Cooper 17-5

Best 4th Year Practical 
Tom Bolton
Shoe 8 / Fit 8-5 / Size 8-5 

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Clonmel
15th & 16th October 2011

Fun Class : Brian Mangan

Apprentice Eagle Eye: Raymond O Connor

Masters Eagle Eye: Martin Payne

1st & 2nd yr Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - Eddy Channon Jr.
2nd - Darren Cooney
3rd - Liam Mullen     

3rd & 4th Yr Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - John McAteer
2nd - Dan Maher
3rd - Ian Worrell    

Open Shoemaking
Best Morgan Hind - Sam Brennan
1st - Sam Brennan
2nd - James Woods
3rd - Eddie Channon Snr    

Intermediate Shoeing
Best Shod Foot - Donal Bennett
Best Specimen Shoe - Donal Bennett
Best Dressed Foot - Dan Maher
1st - Donal Bennett 
2nd - James Woods
3rd - Dan Maher   

Irish Open Shoeing
Best Shod Foot - Sam brennan
Best Specimen Shoe - Sam Brennan
Best Dressed Foot - Ian Worrell
1st - Sam Brennan
2nd - James Woods
3rd - Martin Payne

Clonmel Open Shoeing
Best Shod Foot - Martin Payne
Best Dressed Foot - Sam Brennan
Best Specimen Shoe - Sam Brennan
1st - Martin Payne
2nd - Sam Brennan
3rd - Alwyn McKeown

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HOSE
8th October 2011

Hunter
1st - Matt Randles (86.6)
2nd - Andrew Casserly (86.4)
3rd - Andy Martin (86.4)
4th - Ben Casserly (84.4)
5th - Gavin Golby (84.2)
6th - Leon Bentham (82.8)

1st/2nd Year Apprentices
1st - Dan Rabin (36.0)
2nd - Greg Calvert (35.4)
3rd - Gerhard Schoombie (34.4)
4th - Grant Watt (34.2)
5th - Samuel Duern (32.8)
6th - Kenny Little (32.0)

3rd4th Year Apprentice
1st - James Elliott (35.6)
2nd - Robbie Watson-Greaves (35.4)
3rd - Alex Collier (34.8)
4th - Jake Elliott (31.6)
5th - Ralph Blatchford (30.0)
6th - Lewis Knaggs (29.8)

To receive individual marks please email Claire.

To view the Photo Gallery click here.

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Hunter Championships
1st October 2011

Many thanks to all who supported and travelled long distances to compete again this year, even with an event at head office our entries where full, with top farriers and apprentices from all over the country. Very well done Gary Darlow for winning back to back championships.

Thanks to Grant Moon and Jim Ravenscroft for judging, both had a hard time finding winners.

As always thanks to our sponsors Jim Blurton Tools for their continued backing in these tough economic times, and the Royal Bath & West Society for the use of the best shoeing floor in the country. And our horse owners for some champion hunters to shoe.

We look forward to next year with thoughts of making the competition bigger and better by adding in some more classes if at all possible.

And lastly apologies to the prizewinners for the mix up in the scores, especially Simon Legge who was called up first in the restricted class only to find he had actually be placed second. Thankyou to you all for the gracious way you accepted the mistakes made (hands up me).

We do already have a new program for next year to avoid the same happening again.

Nigel Phillips

Open Hunter Shoeing
1st - Gary Darlow (42.6)
2nd - Duncan Thomson (41.2)
3rd - Gavin Golby (40.4)
4th - Joe Bryan  (40.2)

Restricted Hunter Shoeing
1st - J C Lee (41)
2nd - Simon Legge (39.6)
3rd - Harry Meek (39.2)
4th - Chris Green (39)

1st & 2nd Year Shoemaking
1st - Greg Calvert (17.6)
2nd - Harry Harris (17.4)
3rd - James Stevens (16.2)
4th - Henry Phillips (15.6)

3rd & 4th Year Shoemaking
1st - Robbie Watson – Greaves (17)
2nd - Charlie Cerello (16.1)
3rd - Tom Newman (15.8)
4th - Stuart McGaffin (15.4)

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BFBA Internationals 2011
30th September - 2nd October 2011

Congratulations to the English Team (sposnored by Better 4 Hooves) for once more securing the BFBA International Team Horseshoing Championships. Full results and individual marks can be viewed on the Forge Magazine website - click here.

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YFEDA Heavy Horseshoe Making Competition
4th September 2011

The  Yorkshire  Farriers  Education  &  Demonstration  Association  Heavy  Horseshoe  Making  Competition  was  held  at  The  Forge,  Londonderry,  Northallerton,  Dl7  9NE  on  Sunday  4th  September.  After  the  deluge  of  last  year,  we  were  treated  to  a  beautiful  day  which  certainly  helped  things  to  run  smoothly.  The  Yorkshire  Farriers  would  like  to  thank  Mr  Jim  Balfour  for  judging  the  contest  and  all of  our  sponsors,  without  whose  support  it  would  not  be  possible  to  run  these  popular  competitions.  Our  thanks  go  to  Richard  Ash  Horseshoes;  MNC  Ltd;  Stromsholm  Ltd;  J. & A. Ferrie;  Swan  Portaforge  Ltd;  Londonderry  Forge  Supplies,  County  Steel  Supplies  Ltd  and  F. Cooper  and  Son  Ltd..  The  results  of  the  competition  are  as follows -

Open -
1st - Sarah-Mary Brown (17.6)
2nd - Steven Beane (17.4)
3rd - Paul Collins (17.4)
4th - Adam Fox (17.2)

Apprentice -
1st - Sean Mooney (17.2)
2nd - Ben Grange (17.2)
3rd - Alan Ashcroft (17.0)
4th - Callum Derby (16.0)

Best 1st/2nd Year Apprentices
1st - Sam Ridgewell (14.0)
2nd - Jamie Fox (13.2)
3rd - Tom Dyer (12.8)

Technically Advanced Shoe (Gas)
1st - Jonathon Atkinson (16.0)
2nd - Steven Beane (17.4)
3rd 0 Tom Dyer (8.0)
4th - Campbell Davidson Kelly (7.8)

George Broadhead Shield awarded to the Open competitor with the greatest combined Open/Gas points - Steven Beane.

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Edenbridge & Oxted
28th & 29th August 2011

Class 1 Pony (Mick Orgill Perpetual Trophy)
1st - Jim Hayter
2nd - Dan Birchall
3rd - Michael Saunders
4th - Jim Cooper
5th - Mark White
6th - Steve O'Dell

Class 2 Roadster (James Todd Perpetual Trophy)
1st - Jim Hayter
2nd - Jim Cooper
3rd - Michael Saunders
4th - Stephen Cox-Rusbridge
5th - Dan Birchall
6th - George Hutchins

Class 3 Heavy Horse (Anthony Clare Trophy)
1st - Jim Cooper
2nd - Jim Hayter
3rd - Janek Zysmil
4th - George Hutchins
5th - Mark White
6th - Steve O'Dell

Class 4 1st & 2nd Year Apprentice (PJC Services Trophy)
1st - Grant Watt
2nd - John Benning
3rd - Thomas Glover
4th - Charlie Cerullo
5th - Thomas Martin
6th - Harry Chapman

Class 5 3rd & 4th Year Apprentice (David Hicks Perpetual Trophy)
1st - Tim Williams
2nd - Sam Warman
3rd - Lewis Nash
4th - Jonathon McGrail
5th - Thomas Newham
6th - Sean Mayee

Class 6 Apprentice Heavy Horse
1st - Grant Watt
2nd - Jack Boardman
3rd - Thomas Newman
4th - Thomas Glover
5th - Sam Warman
6th - Harry Chapman

Best working pair (E & O Folly Forge Farriers Challenge Trophy) - Jim Cooper & Grant Watt

Best apprentice in all classes (in judge's opinion) (Stromsholm Trophy & WCF Bronze Medal) - Grant Watt

Championship (C Collins & Sons Championship Trophy & WCF Silver Medal) - Jim Hayter

"A big thank you to our judge Nigel "boom" Fennell AWCF, Louise @ Mustad, Eastlake & Beachell, WCF, Mrs Sally Hicks, Stephen Hill AWCF, & top Steward, Tim Fieldwick, and of course a thanks to all our competitors for another success Show"

A huge thank you to Michele Beard for taking the photographs at the show and for allowing us to use them. To view the Photo Gallery click here.

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Crossan Forge Farrier Competition
20th August 2011

Judged by Mr E. O'Shaughnessy AWCF, the day was a huge success with plenty of ' craic ' had by 44 competitors from all over Ireland, Scotland and England, with many more spectators who turned out to enjoy the days events. Organisers Alwyn and Erica McKeown would like to say a BIG thankyou to the judge, all their helpers and sponsors including Rowan Riding Wear, Life Data- Karen Zetsche who travelled from Germany to attend, BHS, Ariat, Crossan Farrier Supplies, Massey Butchers, Stromsholm, Handmade Shoes UK, Breakaway Horseshoe co., Mr Martin and Sam Payne, Mr E. Channon, Christine and Peter Ruffold, and especially those who competed, well done and hope to see you next year for another great day!

The results are as follows :-

Class One - Open Shoeing
1st - Ian Allison
2nd - Martin Payne
3rd - Rodney Ross
4th - Sam Brennan
5th - Jim Balfour
6th - Brian Alexander

Class Two - Open Shoemaking
1st - Kevin Balfour
2ns - Brian Alexander
3rd - James Woods
4th - Rodney Ross
5th - Jim Balfour
6th - Ian Allison 

Class Three - 1st & 2nd yr
1st - Darren Cooney
2nd - Adam Balfour
3rd - Stuart McGraffin
4th - Phil Smith
5th - Liam Mullen
6th - Paul Taylor 

Class Four - 3rd & 4th yr
1st - John McAteer
2nd - James Elliott
3rd - Garbhan Quinn
4th - Dan Maher
5th - Arron Mullholland
6th - Brian Mangon 

Class Five - Open Eagle Eye
Dave Webley 

Class Six - App Eagle Eye
John McAteer 

Fun Class - Dan Maher

Best Dressed Foot - Martin Payne

Best Specimen - Class Two - Kevin Balfour 

Best Apprentice - John McAteer

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BFBA National Championships
11th - 14th August 2011

BFBA Show Championship
CHAMPION - Matt Randles
RESERVE CHAMPION - Joe Bryan
3rd - Andrew Casserly
4th - Ben Ebrey
5th - Jay Tovey
6th - Nigel Brown
7th - Duncan Thomson
8th - Luke Silcock
9th - David P Smith
10th - Gavin Golby

BFBA National Championship
CHAMPION - Jon Atkinson
RESERVE CHAMPION - Steven Beane
3rd - Gavin Golby
4th - Joe Bryan
5th - Richard Slater
6th - Duncan Thomson
7th - David P Smith
8th - Ben Casserly
9th - Matt Randles
10th - Jonathon Nunn

Best Specimen Shoe - Jon Atkinson
Best Dressed Foot - Gavin Golby

For full results and a break down of marks please visit www.forgemagazine.co.uk.

To view the Photo Gallery click here.

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Peover Game Fair
7th August 2011

Peover Shoemaking Competition held on Sunday 7th of August at Cheshire Game and Angling Fair was another successful day for this small but long running competition. With Judge Jonathan Nunn AWCF working hard all day to judge the high standard of shoes in all three of the classes. Once again we would like to thank our generous sponsors: Swan Forges, Handmade Shoes,  B.L. Farrier supplies, Derek Gardner, Stromsholm, Harris Gas, Forge & Farrier, Mustad, D.B. Crane Ltd, Cottams, and Nigel Fennell. Thank you to all competitors. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
 

Class 1 – Open. (Where ties occurred the Bar shoe with the highest mark took the highest place.)

Class 2 - 1^st and 2^nd Years.

Class 3 – 3^rd and 4^th Years.

Apprentice Champion: Kris Parker.

Winner of the B. L. Highest Marked Apprentice Shoe: Kris Parker.

Photo Gallery from the day can be viewed by clicking here.

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YFEDA Tockwith Competition
6th August 2011

This year’s Tockwith Competition which was held on Saturday 6^th of August at Tockwith show was a very successful day. With Judge Mr. D. P. Smith AWCF taking on the task of judging a newly integrated shoeing element to Tockwith, which saw 14 Open competitors competing against one another to win the prizes on offer. In addition to this remained the speed Shoemaking classes which have been held in previous years. A high standard was found across the four classes throughout the day. We would like to thank our generous sponsors: Swan Forges, Handmade Shoes, Yorkshire Farrier supplies, Energas, Stromsholm, Mustad, Arthur Cottams, and Londonderry Supplies. Thank you to all competitors and to everyone who helped to make the day a success. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Open

Apprentice -

Best Dressed foot: Steven Beane.

Open Speed Shoemaking:                                        Apprentice Speed Shoemaking:

1st Leon Bentham                                                       1st Sean Mooney

2nd Steven Beane                                                        2nd Ben Grange

To view the full Photo Gallery click here. To see other YFEDA events and lots more, visit www.yfeda.co.uk.

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Leek & District Agricultural Show, North Staffordshire
30th July 2011

	Trevor Frost organiser and judges Russell Jones & Gary Darlow are presented with First prize for best show stand from Leek Mayor Mr. Barrie Cowie

NEW SHOEMAKING COMPETITON PULLS IN THE CROWDS

Leek & District Agricultural show in North Staffordshire on 30th July held for the first time a shoemaking Competition.

Gary Darlow and Russell Jones judged the competition.  Competitors came from all over the country.

From the start of the competition right through to the end of day presentation there were crowds of general public watching the event, thus making the shoemaking one of the main attractions of the whole day.  We split the apprentice classes so that prizes were given to 1st year -2nd years - 3rd year- 4th year to encourage the apprentices to enter their section so being able to compete on a level playing field. The intermediate and open classes were hotly contested; the Eagle Eye class proved to be very successful although in some cases the  competitors eye mustn’t have been looking direction! 

One of the highlights of the day was when the shoemaking competition stand won first prize for best  large exhibit this was presented   to Trevor Frost event organiser   by leek Mayor Mr. Barrie Cowie  

Trevor, Clare & Joshua Frost would like to express their sincere thanks to all the sponsors for providing such fabulous prizes and prize money.    Stromsholm Farriers supplies-Webber’s Farrier Supplies - Arthur Cottam & Co - Londonderry Forge Supplies- Mustad -Horseshoe & Farrier Supplies- MNC ltd –System Smart CCTV- Leek show –Forge Magazine-Forge & Farrier Magazine.

Special thanks must go to Russell Jones, Jonathan Nunn for their advice and to the Staffordshire Branch of BFBA for providing the equipment 

The leek show committee have unanimously agreed the shoemaking competition will be being held at the show for the foreseeable future.

Class 1 Section A 1st Year Apprentice
1st - Oliver Fairgrieve
2nd - Joshua Frost

Class 1 Section B 2nd Year Apprentice
1st - Sean Mooney
2nd - John Rumiewicz
3rd - Sam Johnson
4th - Ben Dewhurst
5th - Roslin Platt
6th - Greg Calvert

Class 2 Section A 3rd Year Apprentice
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Jake Elliott
3rd - Ben Wyles
4th - Jo Pickerall
5th - Sam Snow

Class Section B 4th Year Apprentice
1st - J C Lee
2nd - Sam Hammam

Class 3 Eagle Eye
1st - Leon Bentham
2nd - J C Lee
3rd - Mark Watson
4th - Sean Mooney

Class 4 Intermediate
1st - J C Lee
2nd - Jake Elliott
3rd - Tom Richards
4th - Sean Mooney
5th - Adam Baddeley
6th - Phil Martin

Class 5 Open
1st - Charles Hughes
2nd - Phil Martin
3rd - Jamie Bourne-Whithey 
4th - Leon Bentham
5th - J C Lee
6th - Tom Richards

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Border Union
30th July 2011

Class 1, Roadster Shoe Making 
1st - Kennie Little
2nd - Aaron Mullholland
3rd - Paul Taylor
4th - Aaron Doidge
5th - Gregg Crawford
 
Class 2, Roadster Shoeing 
1st - Jason Gajczak
2nd - Jim Balfour
3rd - Dan Corkery
4th - Brian Alexander
5th - Euan Taylor
6th - Stuart Malcolm
 
Class 3, Apprentice Speed Forging 
1st - Kennie Little
2nd - Aaron Mullholland
3rd - Paul Taylor
4th - A Doidge
5th - Tom Dyer
6th - G, Crawford
 
Class 4, Open Speed Forging- 
1st - Brian Alexander
2nd - Jason Gajczak
3rd - Jim Balfour
4th - Wayne Balfour
5th - David Sutherland
6th - Jason Cunningham
 
Apprentice Champion - Kennie Little
Reserve - Aaron Mullhollan
 
Open Champion - Jason Gajczak
Reserve - Jim Balfour
 
Massive thanks to the sponsors!! 
Swan
J & A Ferrie
JYG Farriery
Ian Gajczak

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Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Shoemaking Competition
23rd July 2011

Looking down on Pitstone Green Business Park, home to Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd, you could not fail to be impressed by the array of farriery vans (complete with gazebo’s, just in case!), ready and waiting in anticipation for the start of the largest shoemaking competition in Europe.

Back after a year off, the 6^thHandmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Shoemaking Competition welcomed 131 competitors to its premises to compete for a prize fund in excess of £15,000. With Advanced, Intermediate and Apprentice Championships to contest, farriers and apprentices alike were eager to get started.

Hardly needing an introduction to their two eminent judges, six times World Champion Grant Moon AWCF and three times (and current) World Champion Steven Beane AWCF, the day kicked off with a competitors meeting and a chance to scrutinise the specimen shoes.

Class 1, the ‘Derek Gardner Front & Hind Shoes’, included a concave front and hind with a hammer clip for the 1^st& 2^ndYear Apprentices, a three quarter fullered front and hind, hammer finish, for the 3^rd& 4^thYear Apprentices and a fully fullered front and a three quarter fullered hind for the Advanced and Intermediate farriers. Derek has generously sponsored this class for the last 6 years and prize winners were treated to hammers, fullers, stamps and pritchels.

Results:  James Elliot (1^st& 2^ndYear), Alex Collier (3^rd& 4^thYear), Harry Garner (Intermediate) and Jason Gajczak (Advanced) secured early wins to get the competition off to a flying start.

Class 2, the ‘Jim Blurton Bar Shoe Challenge’, included a pair of egg bars for the 1^st& 2^ndYear Apprentices, a hammer finished pair of three quarter fullered straight bars for the 3^rd& 4^thYear Apprentices, a pair of heart bar hinds for the Intermediates and a rasped and filed pair of heart bar fronts for the Advanced competitors. Jim donated tools to the apprentice classes and barshoes for the Intermediate and Advanced classes.

Results:  James Elliot continued his winning streak in the 1^st& 2^ndYears Apprentices, Josh Wilson won the 3^rd& 4^thYear Apprentices, Harry Garner again won the Intermediate section and Matt Randles secured a convincing win in the Open.

A short break for lunch and a well earned rest before the ‘hotly’ contested ‘Tosaky Forge One Heat Fast & Furious’.  Each year this class produces some of the most admired shoes of the day and some of the most damaged tools too! Ten minutes of beating metal following the pre-heat period produced an amazing collection of shoes – plain stamped, fullered, clipped and unclipped, rolled toes, stud holes and therapeutic to name just a few. Tony Kingery had kindly donated Tosaky Forge Knives to the victors in this class.

Results: James Elliot once again secured top place in the 1^st& 2^ndYears, Jake Elliot won the 3^rd& 4^thYears and Tom Stevens and Jon Atkinson won the Intermediate and Advanced respectively.

The final class of the day, the ‘Kevin Bacon’s Hoofcare Products Judges Surprise Shoes’, completed the marathon of shoemaking tests. From Grant Moon in the 1^st& 2^ndYears was a plain stamped front and hind made from 14” of ¾ x ½. Steven Beane had made a concave lateral support front made from 13” of ¾ x ³/₈and a side bone shoe from 14 ½” of 1” x ½ for the 3^rd& 4^thYear Apprentices. For the Advanced and Intermediate competitors Grant’s specimen was a ¾ fullered front break over shoe and Steven’s a heel and feather hind. Winners of the class received lovely wine and jackets courtesy of Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products.

Results: Robbie Watson-Greaves posted a convincing win in the 1^st& 2^ndYear Apprentices class, Jack Casserly won the 3^rd& 4^thYear class, Jack Harper the Intermediates and Jon Atkinson the Advanced.

A wash and change into something ‘funky’ led the competitors, the staff , friends and family to the black tie Summer Ball and Presentation Dinner.

A superb dinner preceded the nervously awaited and much sought after Championship announcements. Placed consistently throughout the competition Robbie Watson-Greaves was victorious in the 1^st& 2^ndYear Apprentices with Daniel Rabin Reserve Champion. Alex Collier edged ahead of Ben Grange to take the title in the 3^rd& 4^thYear Apprentices whilst Harry Garner capitalised on his early lead in the Intermediate classes to win the Intermediate Championship with Dan Preece in Reserve. Victorious in the Open Championship and winning himself a ton of Handmade Shoes (amongst other prizes) was Jon Atkinson, with Gary Darlow a highly popular Reserve Champion.

Each year the competition is extremely fortunate to be in receipt of a wonderful selection of prizes for those competitors achieving top placings. The generosity of the sponsors is remarkable and those coming out on top walk away with a great ‘booty’ bag! Quite simply the competition would not be what it is today without their contribution.

The B L Farriers Forge given to a competitor of ‘Billy’s Choice’ was won by ‘seasoned competitor’ Paul Duddy for his continued support of the Handmade Shoes Competition and forever turning up without one!

A remarkably generous auction prize list instigated minor bidding wars to help raise £13,690 in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The sale of the latest catwalk item – neon bracelets and necklaces – by our hard-selling Table Captains helped to raise a further £2,698 bringing the total to a fantastic £16,388!

Celebrations continued well into Sunday morning, aided by a champagne reception kindly sponsored by Pierre Mage (Mustad) and wine kindly sponsored by Steffan Heimes (Pferd) and Sam and Mac Head (MNC), completing a superb day. The Handmade Shoes Competition – and Summer Ball – is an occasion not to be missed. A highly organised, professional competition rounded off with a party of farriers, friends and family; camaraderie and character’s! 

Billy and Lucy Crothers would like to thank all of the sponsors for their continuous and generous support, everyone that donated an auction prize, the staff at Handmade Shoes for their hard work and the competition stewards who gave up their time. A special thank you also to James Henderson for kind permission to use his field and marquee and also to all the competitors and those that attended in the evening to celebrate the day’s events and to support such a worthwhile charity.

AUCTION PRIZES

• World Champion Fuller donated by Andrew Casserly
• Two Rugby Tickets donated by Mark Jones of the NFU Oswestry
• Damascus Knife donated by Scott Davidson
• Tool & Fullered Shoe Board donated by N. Fennell, A. Casserly, J. Bryan, D. Smith, M. Randles, G. Golby, D. Gulley, D. Gardner, I. Allison, D. Bazin, S. Beane, G. Darlow
• Meal for Two at The Stag, Mentmore donated by Nigel Bradshaw
• One Day’s Salmon Fishing for Two donated by J & A Ferrie Farrier Supplies
• Horse’s Hoof Bracelet donated by Rusty Brown
• Welsh Cob Shoe made by Richard Ellis donated by Richard Ellis
• Weekend for Two to Maastricht donated by Vettec
• Dressage Lesson with Garry Williams donated by Garry Williams
• Stainless Steel Sculpture donated by Paul Elliot of ‘Hammer & Tongs’
• Sandy Lyle Signed Putter & Signed Autobiography donated by Stuart Lyle
• A Round of Golf for Three (with Billy) at Woburn donated by Billy Crothers
• Handmade Titanium Tongs donated by Ludovic Mathieu
• Black Powder Shoot donated by Huw Dyer of Londonderry Forge
• Two Nights Accommodation at Buckatree Hall, nr. Telford donated by Grant Moon
• Steven Beane & Gary Darlow Shoemaking Clinic donated Steven Beane & Gary Darlow
• ‘Sunset at Findlins’ Photo on canvas of the view from Bruce Wilcock’s forge donated by Bruce Wilcock
• Caricature by Barrie Eyden donated by Barrie Eyden Design
• VIP tour of the Mini Cooper Production Line donated by Steve Prosser
• A Days Hunting with Master of the Worcestershire Foxhounds donated by Ian Allison MFH
• A trip around Knightsbridge Barracks & Stables donated by Capt. R J Spiller RHG/D
• Pinewood Studio Tour donated by Garath Crothers
• ‘Horse Head’ Horseshoe Sculpture donated by Tom Hill Sculpture

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1st & 2nd Year Apprentices
CHAMPION - Robbie Watson-Greaves, winning Emily’s Birthday Trophy (Donated by Emily Crothers), £300 Voucher (Donated by Handmade Shoes), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Myron McLane Apron (Donated by Myron McLane), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), J & A Ferrie DVD (donated by J & A Ferrie)
RESERVE - Daniel Rabin, winning £150 Voucher (Donated by Handmade Shoes), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Myron McLane Apron (Donated by Myron McLane), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), J & A Ferrie DVD (donated by J & A Ferrie)
3rd - Grant Watt
4th - Sean Mooney
5th - Stuart McGaffin
6th - Harry Harris
7th - Anthony Marris
8th - Dominic Jones
9th - Alex Jew
10th - Frazer Atherton

3rd & 4th Year Apprentices
CHAMPION - Alex Collier, winning Emily’s Birthday Trophy (Donated by Emily Crothers), Swan Forge (Donated by Cecil Swan), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), J & A Ferrie DVD (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
RESERVE - Ben Grange,winning Legend Anvil (Donated by Anvil Brand), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Myron McLane Apron (Donated by Myron McLane), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), J & A Ferrie DVD (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
3rd - Josh Wilson
4th - Jake Elliot
5th - Jack Casserly
6th - Harry Meek
7th - Andrew Ireland
8th - Lewis Balfour
9th - Tom Williams
10th - Tom Middleton

Intermediate
CHAMPION - Harry Garner, winning Emily’s Birthday Trophy (Donated by Emily Crothers), 1 ton Pre-Cut Concave Steel (Donated by Laurence McDougal, Legg Brothers), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), GE Pull Offs (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
RESERVE - Dan Preece, winning ½ ton Pre-Cut Concave Steel (Donated by Laurence McDougal, Legg Brothers), Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), GE Clenching Tongs (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
3rd - J C Lee
4th - Tom Galloway
5th - Matt Alderman
6th - Andrew David Smith
7th - Ryan Wadling
8th - Jack Harper
9th - Simon Legge
10th - David Dawson

Open
CHAMPION - Jon Atkinson, winning Emily’s Birthday Trophy (Donated by Emily Crothers), 1 ton (100 boxes) of Handmade Shoes, Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14" Nippers (Donated by MFC), (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
RESERVE CHAMPION - Gary Darlow, winning ½ ton (50 boxes) of Handmade Shoes, Dusky Forge Loop Knife (Donated by Dusky Forge), Forging Tongs and Groover (Donated by Jim Quick), 14” Nippers (Donated by MFC), GE Clenching Tongs (donated by J & A Ferrie), Mark Milster Knife (donated by Mark Milster)
3rd - Matt Randles
4th - Ricky Hilton
5th - Jim Cooper
6th - Andy Martin
7th - Jay Tovey
8th - Adam Fox
9th - Nigel Fennell
10th - Gavin Golby

Full results and individual marks can be obtained by emailing Claire.

To view the full Photo Gallery, click here.

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Royal Welsh Show
18th - 21st July 2011 - provisional

Class 1
1st - Ryan Price
2nd - Billy Scott
3rd - Matthew Rees
4th - Elgan Harries
5th - Craig Williams
6th - Gareth Thomas
Special Award - Richard Slater

Class 2
1st - Michael Saunders
2nd - David Jones
3rd - Billy Scott
4th = Rob Turnball
4th = Elgan Harries
6th - Rob Newton

1st App - Kyle Doherty
2nd App - Ryan Lawrence
3rd App - Alex Taylor

Class 3
1st - Alex Taylor
2nd - Robbie Watson-Greaves
3rd - Rhodri Thomas
4th - James Gant
5th - Chris Hughes
6th - T Glover

Class 4
1st - Richard Slater
2nd - Chris Powell
3rd - Rob Duggan
4th - Robin Turnball
5th - Kevin Davies
6th - Matthew Rees

Class 5
1st - Chris Dowler
2nd - James Gant
3rd - Mike Tynan
4th - Sam Snow
5th - Arnie Pamment
6th - D Northmore

Class 6
1st - Gareth Thomas
2nd - Kevin Davies
3rd - Paul Horner
4th - David Jones
5th - Sarah Mary Brown
6th - Ryan Price

Individual marks can be obtained by emailing Claire.

To view the full Photo Gallery, click here.

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Kent Show Farriery Competition
15th - 17th July 2011

It was our pleasure to welcome our judges David Smith and Peter Cronin to the competitions and our thanks go to them for all their hard work over the three days. I would also like to thank our stewards Paul, Phil, Kevin, Kay, Steve & Dave for all the work that goes into the smooth running of the competition, and all the helpers who contribute so much time.

All the classes were well supported, with over 30 entries for the apprentice shoemaking. I would like to thank all the competitors for their continued support, and for making it such a friendly and successful show.

Our grateful thanks for their continued support go to our sponsors, Corralls Coal Merchant, I S & G Steel Steel Stockholder Ltd, Stromsholms Ltd, Kent County Agricultural Society and also to Dowle Fencing for erecting the fencing around the stand.

Results:

1-2 yr Apprentice Shoemaking                           
1st - George Rogerson (Paul Stern Trophy / BFBA Bronze medal)
2nd - Grant Watt
3rd - Alex Taylor
4th - Harry Chapman
5th - Edward Roberts

3-4 yr Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - Jack Casserly (Arthur Cottam Trophy / BFBA Bronze medal)
2nd - Jack Holder
3rd - Lewis Knaggs
4th - Tom Williams
5th - Ben Hitchcott

Best Kent Apprentice - Grant Watt (Tankard)

Hunter Shoeing
1st - Andrew Casserly (Abbey Manor Shield / Worshipful Co Farriers Silver Medal)
2nd - Anthony Waterfield
3rd - Ben Casserly
4th - Janek Zysmil
5th - Tom Williams

Shire Shoeing 
1st - Jim Cooper (Margaret Slight Trophy and BFBA Bronze Medal)
2nd - Ben Casserly
3rd - Stephen Fisher
4th - John Fuller
5th - Daniel Birchall

Open Shoemaking  
1st - Ben Casserly (Open Shoemaking Plate / WCF Bronze medal)
2nd - Tom William
3rd - Lewis Knaggs
4th - Greg Nuttall
5th - Jim Cooper

Best Competitor under 25 years - Ben Casserly - Fred Harrison Trophy

Kent Show Championship for Classes 1, 2 & 3 -
1st - Ben Casserly (Southern Counties Shield)
2nd - Jim Cooper (Engraved Tankard)

Kent Men Special for Classes 1, 2 & 3
1st - Janek Zysmil
2nd - Greg Nuttall
3rd - Anthony Waterfield

Forge & Bring
1st - Stephen Cox Rusbridge (Edgar Stern Memorial Trophy)
2nd - Jim Cooper
3rd - Mark White
4th - Anthony Waterfield
5th - Ross Parker
Best Apprentice in class - Ross Parker

Malcolm Yeats Trophy - Phil Dunmall

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Great Yorkshire Show
12th - 14th July 2011

Class 1: Open Roadster Shoeing
1st - £60 Plus The Cooke Cup & Wcf Silver Medal - Tom Pears
2nd - £40 - Adam Fox
3rd - £30 - Jon Atkinson
4th - £15 - D Lynch
Best Prepared Foot - £10 - R Britton
Best Specimen Shoe - £10 - Jon Atkinson

Class 2: Open Hunter Shoeing
1st - £65 Plus The Bass North Trophy - Adam Fox
2nd - £45 - Jason Gajczak
3rd - £35 - Jon Atkinson
4th - £25 - David Lynch
Best Prepared Foot - £10 - David Lynch
Best Specimen Shoe - £10 - Jon Atkinson

Class 3: Restricted Hunter Shoeing
1st – £50 Plus The Sutcliffe Trophy - Jake Elliott
2nd - £45 - Mark Gilliver
3rd - £35 - Chris Foster
4th - £25 - Robert Bedford
Best Prepared Foot - £10 - Chris Foster
Best Specimen Shoe - £10 - Jake Elliott

Class 4: Open Agricultural Horse Shoeing
1st -  £65 Plus The Major Gleadow Trophy - Jon Atkinson
2nd - £45 - Adam Fox
3rd - £35 - Tom Pears
4th - £25 - Graham Moran
Best Prepared Foot - £10 - Martin Payne
Best Specimen Shoe - £10 - Jon Atkinson

Class 5: Open Shoemaking
1st - £40 Plus The Westways Cup - Tom Middleton
2nd - £30 - Leon Bentham
3rd - £20 - Jon Atkinson
4th - £10 - Jason Gajczak

Class 6: Apprentice Shoemaking (1st & 2nd Years)
1st - £25 Plus Apprentice Medal + Stromsholm Prizes (1st To 3rd) - Alex Jew
2nd - £20 - Jake Leadbeter
3rd - £15 - Sean Mooney
4th - £10 - Sam Ridgewell

Class 7: Apprentice Shoemaking (3rd & 4th Years)
1st - £35 Plus Capewell Cup & Apprentice Medal + Stromsholm Prizes (1st To 3rd) -  Ben Grange
2nd - £30 - Josh Wilson
3rd - £20 - Alan Ashcroft
4th - £15 - Jake Elliott

Class 8: Surgical Shoemaking
1st - £30 Plus Westways Trophy & Bronze Medal - Jon Atkinson
2nd - £30 - Leon Bentham
3rd - £20 - Tom Pears
4th - £15 - Adam Fox

Champion - Mustad Cup, Plus £30 (Classes 1, 2, 4, 5 & 8) - Jon Atkinson
Reserve - £20 - Adam Fox 

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World Championships Blacksmiths Competition, Calgary Stampede
6th - 10th July 2011

12th July 2011

NEWS RELEASE from Calgary Stampede

Red-hot Beane forges Stampede blacksmith three-peat

CALGARY – No one ever suggested his first Calgary Stampede win was a fluke in 2009. And no one questioned victory No. 2 under the Big Top last July. But now? Steven Beane’s reputation as a world-class blacksmith has officially been dipped in bronze.

Beane, from North Allerton, Yorkshire, England, captured his third consecutive global title at the Stampede’s 32nd annual World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition under the Big Top on Sunday morning. Beane is the first competitor to win back-to-back-to-back world crowns at Calgary since Welshman Grant Moon snared his fifth straight WCBC title back in 1992.
And Beane’s competition in Sunday’s five-man final made the feat that much more impressive. Stoking coke forges around the Big Top floor were Moon, with six world titles to his credit, fellow Cardiff resident Billy Crothers, with five Stampede wins, and Paul Robinson of Northern Ireland, who won the WCBC crown in 2008 before Beane went on his current run.
“It’s very hard to win Calgary every time. But this year, with this field of competitors, there was nothing between us, you know?” said Beane, 32. “These guys are all friends and colleagues of mine. The full top five were from the U.K., which is quite an achievement.

“And to beat them, you’ve got to be at your best, and I’m lucky it happened for me this week. I’ve prepared, and I’ve put a lot of time in for Calgary – for the past three months, Calgary has been my goal,” added Beane. “With the jet lag, I average only four hours of sleep a night here. So I’ve got to be fit. I’ve got to be focused. “And when you hear who’s coming, it makes you more determined. You want to win the world championship when all the best farriers in the world are there.”

Beane takes home the winner’s cheque for $10,000, as well as a gold-and-silver Stampede championship buckle, a limited edition bronze trophy, and a champion’s jacket. Final standings showed Beane with 152 points. Robinson was second with 115 points, Derek Gardner of Scotland placed third with 111, Crothers was fourth at 102 and Moon finished fifth at 95.
Nathan Powell of Water Valley, Alta., was the top Canadian, finishing 10th overall. The WCBC has not crowned a Canadian champion since Bob Marshall in 1986.

“It was an ideal lineup, wasn’t it? First-class competitors. Steven Beane, Billy Crothers, Derek Gardner. Just a fantastic final five. Probably the best final five I’ve ever been part of, anyway,” said Robinson, who hails from Portadown, Northern Ireland.

“You obviously get the pre-match jitters, so you do,” he added. “But you can’t do anything else but step up to the challenge. If you don’t, you’re going to get left behind. The adrenalin just kicks over, and away you go.”

The WCBC, known as the “Olympics of blacksmithing,” attracted 56 modern-day Vulcans from 13 countries around the world this summer: England, Denmark, New Zealand, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, Norway, France, Wales, Belgium, Northern Ireland, the United States, and Canada, with more than $50,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs.

Sunday morning’s semifinal saw the 10 remaining contestants shoe the front feet of a light draft horse in 60 minutes. The finalists were given another 60 minutes to shoe the hind feet of that same horse. Judges Ian Allison of England and Dan Haussman of the United States based their decisions, through a blind judging process, on shoe forging, finish, and nail placement, as well as preparation and balance of the horses’ feet.

Henrick Berger of Denmark, Scotland’s David Varini, Jim Quick of the United States, and Yoann Policard of France also made the top 10. Moon, Robinson, Varini, and Crothers won the four-man team championship, splitting a prize pot of $8,000. Beane was named Forging Champion, taking away $1,000, while Robinson was tapped as Shoeing Champion, pocketing the same amount. Doug Taylor of Blackfalds, Alta., took home Artistic Champion honours, while Jason Bromley of the United States was named Rookie of the Year.

At Saturday night’s Metal Art Auction and Metal Art Showcase, Taylor was named overall traditional forging champion, Patrick McIvor of Salmo, B.C., took overall non-traditional forging champion honours, and Rodney King of New Zealand and England’s Jonathon Nunn teamed up to win the potluck forging category.

Competitors must do their best work in 10 different point classes, including Sunday’s semifinal and final, to win the WCBC. Beane knew he had a 13-point cushion heading into Sunday’s action, but wasn’t really interested in further updates. “I was happy with the work I did. The way I look at it, if I hadn’t won, I was still happy with what I’d done,” he said. “I think that once you please yourself, then you can please everyone else.”

To view results from all the classes and all competitors click here.

To view the FINAL STANDINGS click here.

11th July 2011

FORGE & FARRIER UPDATE

Last night Steven Beane became World Champion Blacksmith at the Calgary Stampede for the third year running. Watched with baited breath by many of us on UStream, the competition - known as the Olympics of Blacksmithing - was a tremendous success for UK farriery with Paul Robinson (winner in 2008) Reserve World Champion and Billy Crothers, Derek Gardner and Grant Moon completing the top 5 placings. Seven UK farriers made it into the Top Ten.

At the time of writing we are awaiting official confirmation of the exact placings and scores from the Stampede office. Results will be published here as soon as we have them.

Huge congratulations to all of you, you've done us proud and have a safe journey home!

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Royal Highland Show
21st - 24th June 2011

Class 1
Open Therapeutics
1st - Ian Gajczak
2nd - Rodney Ross
3rd - Brian Alexander
4th - Sarah Mary Brown
5th - Kevin Balfour

Apprentice Therapeutics
1/2 Years
1st - Grant Watt
2nd - Kennie Little
3rd - Ross Hood
4th - Paul Taylor
5th - Andrew Tennant

3/4 Years
1st - Josh Wilson
2nd - Lewis Balfour
3rd - Dan Corkery
4th - Garbhan Quinn
5th - Andrew Ireland

Class 2
1/2 Year Hunter Shoemaking
1st - Ross Hood
2nd - Kennie Little
3rd - Grant Watt
4th - Johnathan Black
5th - Andrew Tennant

3/4 Year Hunter Shoemaking
1st - Lewis Balfour
2nd - Andrew Ireland
3rd -Josh Wilson
4th - Garbhan Quinn
5th - Katrina Robb

Class 3
Open Farmhorse Shoes
1st - Jim Balfour
2nd - Wayne Balfour
3rd - Ian Gajczak
4th - Alwyn Mckeown
5th - Jackie Campbell

Apprentice Farmhorse Shoes
1st - Lewis Balfour
2nd - Andrew Ireland
3rd - Katrina Robb
4th - Campbell Davidson Kelly
5th - Garbhan Quinn

Class 4
Hunter Shoeing
1st - Ian Gajczak
2nd - Alwyn Mckeown
3rd - Jason Gajczak
4th - Jim Balfour
5th - Gary Hood

Class 5
Roadster Shoeing
1st - Ian Gajczak
2nd - Jason Gajczak
3rd - Sarah Mary Brown
4th - Brian Alexander
5th - Ruaraidh Robb

Class 6
Clydesdale Shoeing
1st - Ian Gajczak
2nd - Jim Balfour
3rd - Wayne Balfour
4th - Jason Gajczak
5th - Ruaraidh Robb

Class 7
2 Man Blacksmithing
1st - Ian Gajczak & Jason Gajczak
2nd - Kevin Balfour & Donald Nicol
3rd - Jim Balfour & Wayne Balfour
4th - Jackie Campbel & Graham Mcburney
5th - Euan Taylor & Stuart Malcolm

2 Man Apprentice Blacksmithing
1st - Oliver Connolly & Campbell Davidson Kelly
2nd - Lewis Balfour & Josh Wilson
3rd - Andrew Ireland & Grant Watt
4th - William Forbes & Kennie Little
5th - Greg Crawford & Ross Hood

Royal Highland Show Champion 2011 - Ian Gajczak
Reserve - Jim Balfour

Royal Highland Show Apprentice Champion 2011 - Lewis Balfour

With thanks to Alan Murdoch for providing the results and images.

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Lincolnshire Show
22nd - 23rd June 2011

The 2011 Lincolnshire County Show Farriery Competition were held on the 22nd & 23rd of June 2011. This year saw more competitors than ever before making for a good competition. I would like to thank our Sponsors, Farriers Choice and Arthur Cottam & Co and Saxilby Ridding school for providing good footed, well behaved horses for the two days.

This Years Judge was Steve Cox-Rusbridge. I would also like to thank Adrian (Middi) Middleton, Andy Welch, John Lehtinen, Glyn Trundle and his Apprentices for all their help over the two days making a smooth running competition possible. Lastly a massive thank you to the “Man with the Mike” Mark for entertaining us and educating the Crowds over the 2 days.

We hope to see all competitors back next year plus more as more fires and new fans mean we can provide more spaces.

Danny Bennett

Results-

Class 1 Open Hunter
1st - S Chatterton
2nd - A Wilson
3rd - M Watson
4th - L Betham
5th - D Lynch
6th - J Farnham

Class 2 1st & 2nd Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - J Tacey
2nd - R Platt
3rd - G  Schoonulie
4th - J Holliday
5th - H Phillips
6th - B Machin

Class 3 Open Roadster
1st - S Chatterton
2nd - M Watson
3rd - A Bunclark
4th - L Bentham
5th - M Chisholm
6th - J Bourne-Withey

Class 4 3rd & 4th Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - A Norris
2nd - J Lee
3rd - B Elkington
4th - O Ridout
5th - R Blatchford
6th - R Overend

Class 5 Open Shoemaking
1st - S Chatterton
2nd - L Bentham
3rd - M Watson
4th - J Lee
5th - J Bourne-Withey
6th - R Blatchford

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Three Counties
17th - 19th June 2011

Therapeutic Shoemaking (Open)
£100.00 Prize Money & Bronze Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - Steven Beane
2nd - Ben Ebrey
3rd - Paul Robinson
4th - Matt Randles

Cob Shoeing.
Benjamin Baker Cup.
£100.00 Prize Money & Silver Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - Paul Robinson
2nd - Derek Gardener
3rd - Gary Darlow
4th - Matt Randles

Arthur Watts Cup :- ( Best Dressed Foot ) - Gary Darlow

Restricted Hunter.
Restricted Hunter Trophy.
£80.00 Prize Money & Bronze Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - Simon Legge
2nd - Phillip Martin
3rd - Kevin Davies
4th - Steve Arnold

Open Hunter Shoeing.
Open Hunter Trophy.
£100.00 Prize Money & Silver Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - Henrik Berger
2nd - Gary Darlow
3rd - D Thomson
4th - Steven Beane

Four Forged Corner Test
£25.00 Prize Money - Winner.
1st - Nigel Brown
2nd - Andrew Bowyer
3rd - Jon Nunn
4th - Harry Meek

Therapeutic Apprentice Shoemaking
£30.00 Prize Money.
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Robbie Watson-Greaves
3rd - Alex Hunter
4th - S Snow

Pony Shoeing.
Cosira Cup.
£100.00 Prize Money & Silver Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - Gavin Golby
2nd - Steven Beane
3rd - Gary Darlow
4th - Matt Randles

Best Dressed Foot - Simon Legge

1st & 2nd Year Apprentice Shoemaking.
Ellis Dawe & Derek Lloyd Challenge Trophy.
Bronze Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - James Elliott
2nd - Robbie Watson-Greaves
3rd - S Evan
4th - Alex Jew

Tankard Arthur Cottam - Alex Jew (Highest 1st Year Apprentice)

Tankard Arthur Cottam - James Elliott (Highest 2nd Year Apprentice)

3rd & 4th Year Apprentice Shoemaking.
Richard Ellis Trophy.
Bronze Medal - W.C.Farriers.
1st - J.C.Lee
2nd - Alex Collier
3rd - Tom Middleton
4th - Harry Meek

Tankard - Stromsholm Ltd - Alex Collier (Highest 3rd Year Apprentice)

Tankard - Stromsholm Ltd - J.C.Lee - (Highest 4th Year Apprentice)

Tongs & Shoe Competition.
Tankards To Winning Pair.
1st - Gary Darlow & Richard Slater.

Speed Chain Making Competition.
£100.00 Prize Money - Sponsored By Richard Ellis.
1st - Nick Bates.

Photo Gallery online, visit here.

For individual marks please email Claire.

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East of England
17th - 19th June 2011

Class 1 1st/2nd Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - S Mooney
2nd - D Atherton
3rd - J Bennings
4th - J Holliday
5th - D Jones
6th - J Schumbie
7th - J Runiewicz
8th - R Platt
9th - F Atherton
10th - J Tacey

Class 2 3rd/4th Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - J Boardman
2nd - J Elliott
3rd - B Elkington
4th - S O'Gara
5th - J Beard
6th - O Ridout

Class 3 Leisure Horse Shoeing
1st - S Fisher
2nd - T Farmer
3rd - G Trundle
4th - A James
5th - J Bryan
6th - E O'Shaughnessy
7th - W O'Shaughnessy
8th - W Mulqueen

Class 4 Hunter Shoeing
1st - Tom Farmer
2nd - Ed O'Shaughnessy
3rd - Steve Fisher
4th - J Bryan
5th - Will O'Shaughnessy
6th - M Chisholm
7th - M White
8th - J Rose

Class 5 Master & Apprentice
1st - E O'Shaughnessy and C Matts
2nd - Stephen Hill and Ben Coy
3rd - W O'Shaughnessy and C Gates
4th - A James and R Darbyshire
5th - T Farmer and S O'Gara
6th - L Ellis and R Ellis
Best Dressed Foot - Stephen Hill and Ben Coy

Class 6 Therapeutic Shoemaking
1st - S Fisher
2nd - J Evans
3rd - J Bryan
4th - E O'Shaughnessy
5th - T Farmer
6th - W O'Shaughnessy

Show Champion - Steve Fisher
Reserve Champion -  Tom Farmer
Champion Apprentice - Sean Mooney
Reserve Champion Apprentice - Jake Elliot
Best Under 25 - Tom Farmer

Photo Gallery online, visit here. Thanks to Stephen Hill for providing the photo's.

For individual marks please email Claire.

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South of England
9th - 11th June 2011

OPEN PONY
1st - MAtt Randles
2nd - Dave Simth
3rd - Andrew Casserley
4th - Jim Hayter
5th - Steve Fisher
6th - Jay Tovey
BEST FOOT JOB - Jim Hayter

OPEN ROADSTER
1st - Gavin Golby
2nd - Matt Randles
3rd - Andrew Casserley
4th - Ben Casserly
5th - Jack Casserly
6th - Steve Fisher
BEST FOOT JOB - Gavin Golby

OPEN HUNTER
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - Jim Hayter
3rd - Gavin Golby
4th - Dave Smith
5th - Ben Ebery
6th - Nigel Fennell
BEST FOOT JOB - Jim Hayter

OPEN SHOEMAKING
1st - Gavin Golby
2nd - Andrew Casserly
3rd - Matt Randles
4th - Jimmy Cooper
5th - George Hutchins
6th - Steve Fisher

APPRENTICE 1st & 2nd YR
1st - Liam o'Hara
2nd - Stuart Mcgaffin
3rd - Grant Watt
4th - Charlie Cerrullo
5th - James Elliot
6th - Charlie Madden

APPRENTICE 3rd & 4th YR
1st - Lewis Knaggs
2nd - Jack Casserly
3rd - J C Lee
4th - Tom Williams
5th - Ben Hitchcott
6th - Arnie Pament

HANDMADE SHOES PERPETUAL TROPHY - Goes to someone every year that shows through, with determination, eagerness, helpfulness, someone that 'makes a difference' went to Chief Steward Tim Fieldwick

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Royal Bath & West
1st - 4th June 2011

1st/2nd Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - J Elliott 17.6
2nd - S Mcgaffin 17.5
3rd - G Watt 16.7
4th - C Ceruello 14.2
5th - J Welling  13.5
6th - R Smials 13
7th - S Evans 12.8
8th - J Garner 12.7
9th - L O’Hara 12.7
10th - H Phillips 12.5

3rd /4th Year Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - H Meek  18
2nd - J Casserly 17.6
3rd - L Bloomfield 17.2
4th - L Knaggs 16.6
5th - Jc Lee 16
6th - D Roberts 15.7

Apprentice Therapeutic Speed Class
1st - H Meek 9.5
2nd - L Knaggs 9
3rd - J Elliott 8.9
4th - Jc Lee 8.5
5th - G Watt 8.4
6th - J Casserly 8.2

Restricted Pony Shoeing
1st - T Bougourd 63.8
2nd - L Bentham  63.4
3rd - C Pell  62
4th - J Somerville 61.7
5th - R Wadling  61.5
6th - C Green  60.8

Open Pony Shoeing
1st - M Randles  72.2
2nd - A Reader-Smith 70.3
3rd - S Fisher  70.2
4th - N Fennell  70.1
5th - I Allison  70
6th - D Thomson  69.6

Open Cob Shoeing 
1st - Dp Smith  72
2nd - M Randles  71.6
3rd - A Casserly 70.9
4th - I Allison  70.2

Open Hunter Shoeing
1st - A Casserly 73.5
2nd - Dp Smith  72
3rd - A Nickalls  71.2
4th - N Fennell  70.9
5th - M Randles  70.4
6th -Sara Mary Brown 70

Open Shoemaking
1st - M Randles  18.1
2nd - D Thomson  18
3rd - A Casserly 17.8
4th - N Fennell  17.4
5th - L Bentham  16.7
6th - Jc Lee  16.4

Also of note the best dressed foot of the week was Simon Wheeler with a 9.6 score.

Royal Bath & West Champion 2011 - Matt Randles

Many thanks to our two judges Andy Martin and Gavin Golby they worked hard all week starting early and finishing on two days after 7 o’clock grabbing food and drink when they could and as the scores show it was not an easy job to find winners .In all they judged 196 competitors work. Many thanks again.

Also a big thanks to our sponsors Richard Ash Horseshoes, Legg Brothers (steel), Northover Coke and the Royal Bath &West Society and our many horse owners for the horses, without whom we could not put on a great horseshoeing competition.

And a final thanks to the ‘Crew’ that make it all happen.

Nigel Phillips

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Suffolk County Show Farriery Competition
1st & 2nd June 2011

We would like to thank all the competitors for supporting another two days of great competition and to congratulate all the prize winners.  I would personally like to thank Allan and Jim Ferrie for their skills in judging the competitions over the two days.

Yet again, we had full shoeing classes with Shires on the first day and Suffolk Punches on the second day.  For the first time apprentices were given their own therapeutic class which was well received and we also introduced an Eagle Eye competition, a fun class which was well attended with thirty two entries.

We hope to see you all again at the 2012 Suffolk Show; please note that the dates have changed because of the  Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the Show will be held on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 June 2012.

We will also be holding more competitions and training days during the year and will publish dates and further details with the Forge & Farrier website as soon as they are confirmed.

Stuart Garrard DipWCF
Senior Farriery Steward

Therapeutic Class
1st - Jay Tovey
2nd - Harry Garner
3rd - Tom Farmer
4th - Edward O'Shaughnessy
5th - Adam Fitch
Reserve - Stephen Hill
Highly Commended - Mark Watson
Commended - James Hackett

National Suffolk Punch Shoeing Championships
1st - Edward O'Shaughnessy
2nd - Jay Tovey
3rd - Stephen Hill
4th - William O'Shaughnessy
5th - Steven Rust
Reserve - Adam Fitch
Highly Commended - Stephen Gowing
Commended - Richard Cain

The J & C Gibbins Perpetual Trophy for local competitors
1st - Edward O'Shaughnessy
2nd - William O'Shaughnessy
3rd - Ricky Hilton

Fireman/Doorman Championship
1st - Tom Farmer and Ricky Hilton
2nd - Edward O'Shaughnessy and William O'Shaughnessy
3rd - Joe Rose and William Mulqueen
Reserve - Robert Rush and Robert Rush
Highly Commended -  Matthew Berndes and Richard Cain
Commended - Stephen Gowing and Steven Taylor

Eagle Eye
1st - Mark Watson

Local Class for Apprentices
1st - Harvey Andrews
2nd - Nathan Salter
3rd - Robert McBride

1st & 2nd Year Apprentices
1st - George Rogerson
2nd - Ryan Ellis
3rd - Robert McBride
4th - Nathan Salter
5th - James Coburn
Reserve - Steven Rooney
Highly Commended - Joshua Muckle
Commended - Lester Ford

3rd & 4th Year Apprentices
1st - Jake Elliott
2nd - Ben Coy
3rd - Jonathon McGrail
4th - Harvey Andrews
5th - Daniel Tidnam
Reserve - Jack Holder
Highly Commended - Adam Curtis
Commended - James Duncan

Best Overall Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - Jake Elliott
2nd - George Rogerson

Apprentice Therapeutic
1st - Sam Warman
2nd - Jonathon McGrail
3rd - Harvey Andrews
4th Jake Elliott

Dobberson Perpetual Challenge Trophy - Edward O'Shaughnessy

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Staffordshire County Show Farriery Competition
1st & 2nd June 2011

Class 1 Open Roadster
1st - Steven Beane (44.3)
2nd - Gary Darlow (43.0)
3rd - Jon Atkinson (42.9)
4th - Adam Fox (42.2)
5th - Richard Slater (42.0)
6th - Charles Hughes (41.5)
Best Prepared Foot - Gary Darlow

Class 2 Restricted Roadster Shoeing
1st - Ben Grange (42.1)
2nd - Alex Collier (41.8)
3rd - Ateve Arnold (41.2)
4th - Ben Taylor (41.1)
5th - Luke Silcock (40.9)
6th - Simon Legge (40.4)
Best Prepared Foot - Steve Arnold

Class 3 Open Shoemaking
1st - Steven Beane (17.9)
2nd - Jon Atkinson (17.6)
3rd - Gary Darlow (16.8)
4th - Russell Jones (16.7)
5th - Adam Fox (15.7)
6th - Steven Arnold (15.6)

Class 4 Apprentice Shoemaking 1st/2nd Year
1st - Callum Darby
2nd - Daniel Rabin
3rd - James Halliday
4th - James Stephens
5th - Hamish Glyn
6th - Shaun Mooney

Class 5 Apprentice Shoemaking 3rd/4th Year
1st - Ben Grange
2nd - Alex Collier
3rd - Ben Taylor
4th - Richard Addison
5th - Tom Williams
6th - Jake Preece

Class 6 Mustad Speed Shoemaking
1st - Jon Atkinson

Apprentice Speed Shoemaking
1st - Tom Williams

Vic Bailey Memorial Trophy - Steve Arnold

Horseshoe & Farrier Supplies (Midlands) Ltd Apprentice Challenge Trophy - Alex Collier

Stafford County Show Champion, The Iceman Trophy - Steven Beane

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YFEDA Otley Competition
21st May 2011

J & A Ferrie Apprentice Shoemaking
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Lewis Balfour
3rd - Ben Taylor
4th - Josh Wilson

Gary Harland and Cottams Speed Forging Open
1st - Jon Atkinson
2nd - Adam Fox

Handmade Shoes Open Shoemaking
1st - Steven Beane
2nd - Jon Atkinson
3rd - Derek Gardner
4th - Gary Darlow

Gary Harland and Cottams Apprentice Speed Forging
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Ben Grange

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Bedfordshire Young Farmers Competition
21st May 2011

To view photos of the day please go to www.jaytoveyfarriers.com

Open Shoemaking sponsored by MNC Ltd
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - Harry Garner
3rd - Tom Farmer
4th - Marks Evans

15 minute Challenge, 3rd & 4th Years, sponsored by Farriers Choice Ltd
1st - Scott Taylor
2nd - David Cherington
3rd - Ben Elkington
4th - Adam Illston

Apprentice Shoemaking, 1st & 2nd Years, sponsored by Stromsholm
1st - James Elliott
2nd - James Gant
3rd - Liam O'Hara
4th = Nathan Salter
4th = Jack Young

15 minute Challenge, Qualified, sponsored by Farriers Choice Ltd
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - Harry Garner
3rd - Tom Farmer
4th - Stephen Britten

Apprentice Shoemaking, 3rd & 4th Years, sponsored by Stromsholm
1st - Sammy O'Gara
2nd - Ben Coy
3rd - David Cherington
4th - Adam Illston

Overall Championship sponsored by Mustad
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - Harry Garner
3rd - Tom Farmer
4th - James Elliott

Open Speed sponsored by Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - Tom Farmer
3rd - Harry Garner
4th = Rob Reeve
4th = Mark Evans

Apprentice Speed sponsored by Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd
1st - Adam Ilston
2nd - Ben Coy
3rd - Ben Elkington
4th = Sammy O'Gara
4th = Arnie Pamment

15 minute Challenge, 1st & 2nd Years, sponsored by Farriers Choice Ltd
1st - James Elliot
2nd - James Gant
3rd - Liam O'Hara
4th - Nathan Salter

For individual scores please email claire@forgeandfarrier.co.uk

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World Horse Welfare Competition
20th May 2011

This year’s competition was once again a great success with a good turnout of apprentices which was very encouraging.

A big thank you goes out to all the sponsors in particular Handmade Shoes (UK) with their very generous support in the gas forging and this year Mustad also donated prizes in kind, without the help of these companies it would be very difficult to run competitions. There are many other sponsors that also need to be thanked and also to all those who helped on the day.

Next year, it is hoped to have a seminar on the Friday to celebrate the opening of World Horse Welfares new indoor school, cafe and lecture facilities.
Anyone out there that would like to sponsor steel or coal or prizes in kind please contact Donald Nicol by E-mail donald@nicolfarriers.com or Call 07785745956.

Open
Class 1 - B L Farrier Supplies Ltd
1st - Dave Wilson
2nd - Aaron Mulholland
3rd - Ruaraidh Robb
4th - Jim Balfour
5th - Josh Wilson

Class 5 - Woodside Veterinary Group
1st - Jim Balfour
2nd - Josh Wilson
3rd - Dave Wilson
4th - Alex Sharman
5th - Wayne Balfour

Class 3+7 - Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd
1st - Ruaraidh Robb
2nd - Jim Balfour
3rd - Alex Sharman
4th - Dave Wilson
5th - Stuart Malcom

Apprentice
Class 2 - Ali Smith DipWCF Hons
1st - Lewis Balfour
2nd - Josh Wilson
3rd - Kennie Little
4th - Aaron Mulholland
5th - Ollie Connelly

Class 6 - Donald Nicol Farriers Ltd
1st - Paul Taylor
2nd - Lewis Balfour
3rd - Aaron Doidge
4th - Kennie Little
5th - Andrew Tennant

Class 4+8 - Richard Ellis DipWCF
1st - Josh Wilson
2nd - Lewis Balfour
3rd - Aaron Mulholland
4th - Andrew Tennant
5th - Kennie Little

Class 9 - Open Eagle Eye
Alex Sharmen

Class 10 - Apprentice Eagle Eye (Ken & Jamie Playle Trophy)
Lewis Balfour

Best Specimen Class 1 (B L Farrier Supplies Ltd Trophy)
Dave Wilson

Apprentice Overall Points Winner Classes 2,4,6,8 (Stromsholm Ltd Trophy) Lewis Balfour

Open Points Winner Classes 1,3,5,7 (Brooks Lane Cup) Jim Balfour

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Devon County Show
19th - 21st May 2011

Pony Shoeing
1st - Anthony Waterfield
2nd - Andy Bowyer
3rd - Gavin Golby

Shoemaking Open
1st - Gavin Golby
2nd - Chris Powell
3rd - Simon Legge

Roadster Competition
1st - Gavin Golby
2nd - Steve Fisher
3rd - Andy Bowyer

Hunter Shoeing
1st - S Fisher
2nd - M Saunders
3rd - Jon Nunn

Fireman/Doorman
1st - Gavin Golby and Steve Fisher
2nd - L Silcock and J Nunn
3rd - M Evand and C Powell

1st/2nd Year Apprentices
1st - F Atherdon
2nd - D Atherdon
3rd - S Evans

3rd/4th Year Apprentices
1st - Lewis Knaggs
2nd - Harry Meek
3rd - D Northmore

Eagle Eye
1st - Mark Preece
2nd - Jason Evans
3rd - Jason Brown

Champion - Gavin Golby
Reserve Champion - Steve Fisher

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Newark & Nottinghamshire County Show
14th & 15th May 2011

Hunter Class 
1st - Derek Gardner
2nd - Gavin Golby
3rd - Matt Randles
4th - Sarah Mary Brown

Roadster Class 
1st - Derek Gardener
2nd - Gavin Golby
3rd - Matt Randles
4th - Luke Silcock

Eagle Eye 
1st - Jake Elliott

1st & 2nd Yr Apprentice 
1st - James Halliday
2nd - Sam Johnson
3rd - Luke Cornthwaite
4th - Jason Tacey

3rd & 4th Yr Apprentice 
1st - Ben Grange
2nd - Ben Taylor
3rd - Tom Middleton
4th - Jake Elliott

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Home International
6th - 8th May 2011

Class 1 Clydesdale Shoeing
1st - England 149.1
2nd - Scotland 147.6
3rd - Ireland 131
4th - Wales 124.6

Class 2 Shoemaking Round
1st - England 62.4
2nd - Scotland 58.4
3rd - Wales 52.7
4th - Ireland 51.9

Class 3 Shoemaking Round
1st - England 61.7
2nd - Scotland 50
3rd - Wales 49.8
4th - Ireland 46.5

Class 4 Roadster Shoeing
1st - England 154.9
2nd - Scotland 152.5
3rd - Ireland 145.5
4th - Wales 129.3

Overall Scores
1st - England 305.9
2nd - Scotland 285.1
3rd - Ireland 256.2
4th - Wales 154.2

Class 6 Reserve Shoemaking
1st - Ireland 14.2
2nd - England 14.1
3rd - Scotland 14.1
4th - Wales 12.4
(Tie Break on apprentice shoe)
                                                                          
Best Specimen - Reserve Class
Master: Devin Crerar  7.9
Apprentice: J.Mc Ateer 7.7

Overall Classes 1-4
Master- D.Smith 8.8 Tooled and fullered Bar Shoe
Apprentice- J.C.Llee 8.8 Concave Calkin wedge

Best Dressed Foot
Apprentice: J.Wilson- Both trims added together 16.7

Full gallery available in the Photo Gallery....

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Woodbridge Show
2nd May 2011

Cob Shoeing
1st - R Hilton (Best Shod Foot)
2nd - S Gowing
3rd - J Povey
4th - H Garner
5th - J Cooper
6th - M Thompson

Open Shoemaking
1st - R Hilton
2nd - J Cooper
3rd - T Farmer
4th - H Garner
5th - J Povey
6th - G Watt App

1st & 2nd Year
1st - G Watt
2nd - C Cerullo
3rd - J Rucewicz
4th - H Phillips
5th - J Benning
6th - N Salter

3rd & 4th Years
1st - B Coy
2nd - S O’gara
3rd - A Curtis
4th - B Hitchcock
5th - J Beard
6th - D Tidman

Open Champion - R Hilton
Apprentice Champion - G Watt

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BFBA Ayrshire Branch Competition
8th & 9th April 2011

Apprentice Gas Forging
1st - Ben Grange
2nd - Ben Taylor
3rd - Alex Collier
4th - J C Lee
5th - Lewis Balfour
6th - Jonny Kirk

Gas Forging
1st - Jon Atkinson
2nd - Jim Cooper
3rd - Ben Casserly
4th - Steven Beane
5th - Matt Randles
6th - Ed O'Shaughnessy

Apprentice Eagle Eye
1st - Robbie Watson-Greaves
2nd - Josh Wilson
3rd - Ben Taylor
4th - Jack Casserly
5th - Oliver Connolly
6th - Christopher Westlake

Eagle Eye
1st - David Smith
2nd - Ben Casserly
3rd - Harry Garner
4th - Ian Allison
5th - Jason Gajczak
6th - Gary Darlow

1st & 2nd Year Apprentices
1st - Kenny Little
2nd - Robbie Watson-Greaves
3rd - Sean Mooney
4th - Grant Watt
5th - Stuart McGaffin
6th - Callum Darby

3rd & 4th Year Apprentices
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Ben Grange
3rd - Aaron Mulholland
4th - Ben Taylor
5th - Tom Williams
6th - Jake Elliot

Two Man Apprentice Draught Shoemaking
1st - Alex Collier and Ben Grange
2nd - Lewis Balfour and Josh Wilson
3rd - Jake Elliott and Sean Mooney
4th - Aaron Mulholland and Andrew Ireland
5th - Jack Casserly and Lewis Knaggs
6th - Ben Coy and Sammy O'Gara

Two Man Draught Shoes
1st - Steven Beane and Derek Gardner
2nd - John Nunn and Matt Randles
3rd - Ed and Will O'Shaughnessy
4th - Jason Gajczak and Fraser Spittal
5th - Jon Atkinson and Adam Fox
6th - Gary Darlow and Richard Slater

Two Man Roadster
1st - Steven Beane and Derek Gardner
2nd - Jon Atkinson and Adam Fox
3rd - John Nunn and Matt Randles
4th - Gary Darlow and Richard Slater
5th - Jason Gajczak and Fraser Spittal
6th - Ben Casserly and Andrew Casserly

Best Shod Foot (2 Man Roadster)
1st - John Nunn and Matt Randles

Best Roadster (2 Man Roadster)
1st - Jon Atkinson and Adam Fox

Intermediate
1st - Jamie Bourne-Withey
2nd - Liam Cooper
3rd - Jackie Campbell
4th - Tom Galloway
5th - Michael Saunders
6th - Damian Redman

Best Dressed Foot (Open)
1st - Fraser Spittal

Best Shod Foot (Open)
1st - Matt Randles

Open
1st - Matt Randles
2nd - David Smith
3rd - David Varini
4th - Ian Allsion
5th - Fraser Spittal
6th - Gary Darlow

APPRENTICE CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion - Ben Grange
Reserve Champion - Alex Collier
3rd - Ben Taylor
4th - Josh Wilson
5th - Robbie Watson-Greaves

1st & 2nd Year Champion - Robbie Watson-Greaves

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion - Matt Randles
Reserve Champion - Derek Gardner
3rd - Steven Beane
4th - Jon Atkinson
5th - Ben Casserly

To receive individual marks please email Claire.

Full photo gallery avaiable to view here.

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Shire Horse Show
19th & 20th March 2011

Open
1st - Steven Beane (45.5)
2nd - J Atkinson (45.5)
3rd - N Fennell (44.5)
4th - A Nicholls (44.4)
5th - W O'Shaughnessy (43.6)
6th - S Brown (43.6)

1st/2nd Years
1st - J Gant (8.8)
2nd - R Watson-Greaves (8.6)
3rd - S McGaffin (8.5)
4th - James Elliott (8.4)
5th - T Glover (8.0)
6th - L O'Hara (7.8)

3rd/4th Years
1st - A Ashcroft (8.8)
2nd - R Darbyshire (8.6)
3rd - B Grange (8.4)
4th - H Meek (8.2)
5th - Jake Elliott (8.0)
6th - T Middleton (7.8)

Full results are available, please email Claire.

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Eastern Counties Championship
5th March 2011

Class 1 – Open Hunter Shoeing
1st – Andrew Casserly
2nd – Matthew Randles
3rd – Nigel Fennell
4th – Edward O’Shaughnessy
Res – Ricky Hilton
Highly Commended – Ben Casserly

Class 2 – Therapeutic
1st - Andrew Casserly
2nd – Leon Bentham
3rd – Nigel Fennell
4th – Matthew Randles
Res – Gavin Golby
Highly Commended – Ricky Hilton

Class 3 – Apprentice Shoemaking – 1st & 2nd Years
1st – Robbie Watson-Greaves
2nd – Shaun Evans
3rd – Stuart McGaffin
4th – Charlie Cerullo

Class 4 – Apprentice Shoemaking – 3rd & 4th Years
1st – J C Lee
2nd – Ben Coy
3rd – Harry Meek
4th – Jake Elliott

Class 5 – Apprentice Therapeutic
1st – Jake Elliott
2nd – J C Lee
3rd – Sammy O’Gara
4th – Tom Wait
Res – Harry Meek
Highly Commended – Stuart McGaffin

Class 6 – Eagle Eye
1st – William Hampson

Images to follow....

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World Horseshoeing Classic, Kentucky
February 2011

In the last week of February a community of Farriers converged on Richmond, Kentucky for the first ever team competition on U.S. soil, the first annual World Horseshoeing Classic. The event was held at Kentucky Horseshoeing School which is a brand new state of the art facility that is second to none. The table was set and it was going to be the combined efforts of KHS and the World Championship Blacksmiths to orchestrate the event. This event was to be old school in every way possible; we didn’t have a budget for golf carts, or caution tape to keep knowledge seeking Farriers behind the lines. With all contests you want it to be fair and unbiased, but that is simply not enough we needed three judges to be fair and unbiased and be able to convey and explain in an open forum. We had three men for the job and they did exactly that; Shayne Carter, CJF of Payson, Utah, Gerard Laverty, AWCF of Vancouver, British Columbia, and last but not least Conrad Trow, CJF of Shelbyville, Kentucky. Going into this project all parties involved knew that we had to get the first one out there before the Farrier community would understand what we were trying to accomplish and if our intentions were true to the trade. Americans putting on a team competition meant we had to have a goal in mind that not everyone could see until after it had happened and it affected them, teamwork and humility. In most contests it is important that you execute but in a true team competition it is more important that you formulate a go because to execute is the obvious.

The outline was simple - it would be three days of competition. On the first day all teams would shoe a draft horse with ¾ fullered shoes, agricultural turned up heels (Scottish heels) and a toe clip. Each team mate would do one foot and they could use their time anyway they formulated to fit in a 2 ½ hour go. Three judges would judge all aspects of judging; foot prep, shoe making, shoe fit, and final fit and finish, for a score of 1 to 10. This means that there is a total of 120 points possible for each category. On the second day the teams would shoe a horse with plain stamped bevels on the front with a bob punched toe clip, and a fullered caulkin and wedge with suitable clip behind. The scoring would be the same and the time limit would be the same. On day three the teams would shoe a horse hunter style with tooled and fullered 5/8” square stock. The fronts to be fullered heel to heel with toe clip and hunter heels, and fit to be penny on a penny, and the hinds would be ¾ fullered, quarter clip with a caulkin and wedge. There were no specimen shoes, it was all on the foot and the single most important task that we as farriers do on a day to day basis would win this contest, fit! Argue this fact if you want but fit is what makes all the gimmicks survive and cultivates new gimmicks. If you can read and fit feet you can cut your supply bill in half, and not warehouse gimmicks and substitutions for craftsmanship on your shoeing rig.

Now that we have explained what was going on its time to explain what happened. The most educational thing about a shoeing contest is that there are no atta-boys handed out, mostly constructive criticism and pointers on how to do better. When a go is over the three judges might have the only opinion that counts but everyone has an opinion and it flows like wine. No other format in the farrier world has this type of real time capability, and it is getting pissed away. If the knowledge hungry spectator is kept behind the line and not being able to be in the action then what is gained, can you get an idea of knowing what just happened from 20 feet away, I think not. I don’t care if you’re Billy Crothers or a shoeing school student in their second week you want a peek. Lately contests have strayed away from our strengths and given into our weakness, we just put up a barrier and say you stay out and the competitors stay in, there is no exchange of knowledge in that. Everything we do in the farrier world is observed, retried, and done over and over until muscle memory sets in. The spectators at the WHC were told that they should stay out of the way of the competitors, but other than that they were welcome to get any vantage point they could. Everyone at the competition was respectful of this luxury, they all made way for the competitors and the judges and we had no badge heavy steward wearing a white coat being a buzz kill (these are self filling positions that no one misses ever!) The things that make up a good time for a good contest are good tunes to keep a positive environment, good grub that is Johnny on the spot (food is love), and people who are all heading in the same direction which is obviously to get better, we had this concoction this weekend.

We had ten teams signed up for the event, but as we closed in we had to disassemble a team to fill spots on two others due to injury and sickness. The nine teams that competed were:
Team Horseshoes Plus - Mark Schneider, George Barker, Jim Smith, and Travis Koons
Team New Jersey - Eric Russell, Jason Gilliland, Daniel Jones, and Jeremiah Harris
Team Arkansas - Tim Hoover, Tom Wright, Cecil Buffalo, and Lloyd Clayton
Team Kentucky - Bryan Osborne, Chris Overly, Travis Smith, and Rodney King
Team Texas - Jim Poor, Bill Poor, Billy Reed, and Jake Engler
American Farriers Team - Dusty Franklin, Mike Augenstein, Brian Nelson, and Ben Mangan
Team WCB - Tim McPhee, Gene Lieser, Raleigh Desiato, and Chris Madrid
Team Canada - James Findler, Nathan Powell, Matt Keuchler, and Iain Ritichie
Team Wales - Jim Blurton, Andy Martin, Mark Evans, and Billy Crothers

Day one started with a very insightful clinic with Conrad Trow demonstrating shoe fit with several cadaver legs. Conrad focused on medial heel fit, lateral heel fit, and fitting the toe with quarter clips and toe clips, after a question and answer session it was time to get the first round started. As we stated in the beginning of this article this was the first team competition of this kind in the U.S. and it showed; you had competitors saying how they just wanted to be part of it and didn’t want to let their teammates down, just be lucky to get done, but when the starting bell rung it took on a life of its own. The trophies for each day would be a replica of the foot that the competitor actually shod made out of wood that Ben Hupp made. The Welsh team finished strong and I mean they finished strong, no team really pulled away with trim and fit, but the Welsh team had pulled away by 12 pts in the finish and got the first day win on the Draft Horses, team Texas was second, and sitting in third was the AFT. The first day left no one discouraged but rather motivated by what they had witnessed, the Welsh team had displayed their experience and teamwork which before this had only been witnessed by a handful in the big picture. Team Texas left no one disappointed either with an all-star team that worked with old school/new school exactness.

The second day was the roadster shoeing and it was pretty evident that all the competitors had settled in and they had a new perspective on what it was going to take to win this deal. The day started off with a power point presentation by Gerard Laverty on the correlation between the invention of the assembly line and the demise of the blacksmith trade in North America, very interesting and informative! We reversed the go rounds so if you were in the first round the first day you would be in the second round today. The shoeing in the first round had obviously tightened up from the previous day and it only got tighter in the second round. The Canadians came out to redeem themselves from the previous day and they did just that by winning the Roadster day, with team Texas coming in second, and team WCB rounding out the third spot. The day ended with all the people at the event picking up every foot hundreds of times and rehashing it out over and over again. The third day would start with all four of the top teams staggered 3 points apart, and with 120 points possible in each category it was definitely a horse race.

The final day of competition was started off with Shayne Carter welding a Damascus billet, the clinic focused on starting and troubleshooting involved in welding multiple layers of a knife billet. Since Shayne has been consumed by knife making and is going for his journeyman knife makers’ certificate he had a lot to share. The Canadians came out and scored big in the first round with a horse that had been over trimmed several weeks prior and did a marvelous job. It looked like the Canadians had a score that couldn’t be beat the Welsh team drew a horse with feet that would be hard to score on. With a couple of low scores on the hoof prep the Welsh amped it up and did some pretty amazing stuff. While everyone was circle around watching the Welsh go team WCB were quietly having the go of a lifetime on the other end of the floor. After the smoke had settled team WCB had won the tooled and fullered day, Wales was second and the Canadians were third. No one knew the results of the day and it was close enough to keep it suspenseful for that night at the prize giving.

1st place was Team Wales awarded a Check for $10,000.00 and four belt buckles sponsored by Farrierproducts.
2nd place was Team Canada awarded four Todd Walker Creasers
3rd place was Team WCB awarded four Stainless quench buckets by Empire Farrier supply
4th place was Team Texas awarded four Andy Darden cone clipping hammers
5th place was the AFT awarded four engraved pocket knives sponsored by Emerson horseshoe supply
6th place was Team Horseshoes Plus awarded four pairs of Jim Keith tongs sponsored by WCB
7th place was Team New Jersey awarded four Battlecreek outfitters shoeing aprons
8th place was Team Kentucky awarded four Mark Milster shoeing knives
9th place was Team Arkansas awarded four Tosaky Forge creasers sponsored by WCB

The Best Shod Foot Award was for the highest scored foot for the entire weekend went to Billy Crothers with a score of 37. He received a handmade display box and folding Damascus pocket knife, both display and box were made by Scott Davidson.

On the fourth day we had a special treat for a special reason. Richard Ellis, a true friend to the farrier community has been diagnosed with cancer and is fighting the big fight. The Welsh team generously donated their time to come give a clinic on behalf of Richard and it was a special event, these four individuals pulled out all the stops and had everyone down on their knees inspecting and observing. The afternoon was a special day that had everyone in attendance understanding a little bit better on how to achieve excellence. The money raised for Richard through that clinic isn’t enough but I can definitely say it was all everybody had, and that was the note for the weekend giving everything you had.

I would personally like to thank all the teams for coming out and making it a fun, interactive, learning experience! Our two presenting sponsors that helped raise the booty for the prizes; SAS Global, Inc and Magic Cushion Hoof Packing. Hope to see a few more of you next year because it is definitely onward and upward!

Craig Trnka

Forge & Farrier would like to thank Craig for submitting this article with images :-)

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Household Cavalry Pairs
12th February 2011

1st – A Casserly and B Casserly
2nd – B Crothers and D Bazin
3rd – S Beane and S Brown
4th – G Golby and M Randles
5th – S Cox-Rushbridge and B Burchell
6th – J Nunn and L Silcock

To view a great short video of the competition, courtesy of Mustad please click here.

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Middlewich Gas Shoemaking Competition
6th February 2011

A wet and windy weekend in Cheshire saw the second Middlewich gas shoemaking Competition, held at BL Farrier Supplies LTD and run by Leon Bentham and JC Lee. This competition was sponsored by over twenty-four local, national and international businesses, who together donated over two thousand pounds worth of steel, gas and prizes.

These sponsors included, BL Farrier Supplies LTD for the use of the yard and all the rosettes, Leggs Brothers for the steel, Calor Gas for the gas, Staffordshire NAFBAE Branch for the loan of eight fires and anvils, Swan Products LTD for the loan of ten fires, Gary Darlow, Simon Bourne and Darren Slater for the loan of anvils.

Londonderry Forge Supplies, Jameg, Breakaway Horseshoes LTD, Stromsholm, Handmade Horseshoes LTD (UK), J&A Ferries, Greg Calvert Tools, JC Lee, MNC, Mustad, NWT Farrier Supplies, Jim Blurton Tools, Derek Gardener Tools, Janssen Animal Health all for very generous prizes, Ed Bentham & 1st Timperley Scouts for the food, Leon Bentham for the three trophies and not forgetting Greenwood Photography LTD for the great snaps of the proceedings.

The publicity we were provided by forgeandfarrier.co.uk brought seventy-six competitors travelling many miles to take part and make this competition an excellent event. There were nineteen gas fires blazing all day so the competitors had no chance of getting cold on this wet February day.

With the daylight hours on our minds and ten classes over twenty-two rounds to get through there was a big worry of it going dark before we had finished the day’s work. Local Farrier Terry Hargreaves kindly gave up his Sunday and once again excelled as Chief Steward keeping all the apprentices in order and on time whether they liked it or not. Over on the other eight fires there was a slight glitch with the smooth running of the proceedings after one of the gas pipes decided to catch fire spilling flames out across the marquee. As competitors scarpered in every direction a big thank you should go out to Matt Randles for passing Leon the fire extinguisher and saving him from burning his arm further whilst trying to turn the bottle off. Disaster averted there was a fifteen minute delay as a new pipe, regulator and bottle were sourced. We would also like to Terry Hargreaves again for prompting us earlier in the day put some fire extinguishers around the event. More care and attention to health and safety will be taken next year and also more space in the tents for the competitors to work.

The judges Jon Nunn (Open Shoemaking Champion 2010) and David Lynch (Intermediate Shoemaking Champion 2010) had a tough job marking over four hundred shoes from the ten classes between them, but they did a superb job and both provided excellent specimens for the competitors to work to.

Lunch was provided by Ed Bentham who had the mammoth job of peeling potatoes and chopping onions for over two hundred portions of corned beef hash.

A mention must go out to Lisa and JC who sorted out all the scores in quick time so the competitors were not standing around in the cold for too long before prize giving. (Drinking all our beer supplies!!)

A new award was provided by Lucy and Billy from Handmade Shoes (UK) LTD for the best improved apprentice, we came to the result by taking away last years result from this years and the apprentice with the highest difference won the Handmades vice and vice stand. The result was also backed up by our judge Jon Nunn who agreed this was a fair way and with a remarkable score difference of 4.3 points improvement from last year Fred Turner-Handley was a deserving winner.

Another big thanks for all who were involved in the event and we hope to see you again next year.

CLASS 1 1st Year
1st - Greg Calvert
2nd - Alex Jew
£rd - Kyle Doherty
4th - Jamie Edwards
5th - Dan Rabin
6th - Sam Ridgewell

CLASS 2 2nd Year
1st - Callum Derby
2nd - James Elliot
3rd - Sean Mooney
4th - John Runeiwicz
5th - Sam Johnson
6th - Fred Handley

CLASS 3 3rd Year
1st - Alex Collier
2nd - Tom Middleton
3rd - Tom Williams
4th - Tom Newham
5th - Sam Warman
6th - Anthony McKenzie

CLASS 4 4th Year
1st - Ben Taylor
2nd - Jonny Kirk
3rd - Alex Hunter
4th - J C Lee
5th - Jason Richardson
6th - Jamie Bourne Whithy

CLASS 5 1st & 2nd Year
1st - James Elliot
2nd - Greg Calvert
3rd - Shaun Mooney
4th - Alex Jew
5th - Kris Parkin
6th - Ben Dewhurst

CLASS 6 3rd & 4th Year
1st - Jonny Kirk
2nd - J C Lee
3rd - Jason Richardson
4th - Tom Middleton
5th - Tom Williams
6th - Alex Collier

APPRENTICE CHAMPIONSHIP
2nd - Greg Calvert
1st - James Elliot

BEST LOCAL APPRENTICE Greg Calvert

BEST IMPROVED APPRENTICE Fred Handley

CLASS 7 Intermediate
1st - Andy Cooper
2nd - J C Lee
3rd - Chris Pailer
4th - Darren Slater
5th - Luke Silcock
6th - Mark Gilliver

CLASS 8 Open
CHAMPION - Steven Beane
RESERVE CHAMPION - Jonny Atkinson
3rd - Charlie Hughes
4th - Gary Harland
5th - Luke Silcock
6th - Phillip Martin
7th - Matt Randles

BEST LOCAL FARRIER CHRIS PAILER

CLASS 9 OPEN EAGLE EYE
1st - Oliver Gregory
2nd - Dan Preece
3rd - Matt Randles

CLASS 10 APPRENTICE EAGLE EYE
1st - Sean Mooney
2nd - Ben Wyles
3rd - Jason Richardson

Nigel Phillips

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