moreCOMPETITION RESULTS

COMPETITION RESULTS 2012

5th February 2012 - Middlewich Shoemaking Competition

Again the competition was a great success with over a hundred entries, a record number of applicants considering this was only its third year.  A massive thank you must go to our sponsors for their support without which the day would not have been able to go ahead.  Legges Brothers sponsored 338 pieces of steel and Calor Gas donated 20 gas bottles which are both an amazing show of generosity.  Louise from Mustad came on the day with prizes for the apprentice and open competitors while MNC Horseshoes, Breakaway Horseshoes, 3rd Millennium Horseshoes and Jameg sent prizes galore for the intermediate and open competitors.
As this competition was originally set up to encourage apprentices there were 38 awards for the training farriers all sponsored by Sean Mooney (Holmes), Stromsholm, Mustad, J&A Ferries, Londonderry Forge Supplies,  Jim Blurton, Derik Gardner Tools, Alan Calvert Tools and Leon Bentham provided a new bronze horse trophy for the apprentice champion.
In their infinite wisdom Leon Bentham and JC Lee decided to this year set up all the 21 fires and anvils in a redundant warehouse next to BL Farrier Supplies ltd in Middlewich, which seemed a logical idea as the previous two years had been a frantic effort to erect a marquee in the reliable British weather and then the morning of the competition set all twenty fires and anvils up and then clear it all away again that evening but with a secure building this could be done at leisure in the days previous and proceeding, easy!!
1600hrs on the Saturday evening all prepared we felt confident we had thought of everything, on the timetable we had 84 competitors set out to each compete in two rounds of shoemaking and unfortunately we had to send 18 of the later entries back as there was no room to fit them in.  Just ready to set off home for the night and it started snowing and as in true British fashion a bit of snow and the country went into panic.  Understandably Farriers travelling from further afield decided not to drive the distance which left us with about ten or so free spaces which came in handy for the lads who were held up in the morning and missed their first round.
In the morning the first six rounds were held and we soon realised 21 fires in an enclosed space, even on a frosty day, was going to be a HOT day!
 
Class 1- 1st year apprentices
6th Ed Dodd; 5th Oliver Fairgrave; 4th Dylan Evans;
3rd Rhod Thomas; 2nd Dan Hawkins
1st Ryan Sutton
Class 2- 2nd year apprentices
6th Frazer Atherden; 5th Dain Atherden; 4th James Stevens;
3rd Gregory Calvert; 2nd Henry Tracey
1st Dan Rabin
Class 3- 3rd year apprentices
6th Liam O’Hara; 5th Sean Mooney; 4th Stuart McGaffin;
3rd Robbie Watson Green; 2nd James Elliott
1st James Gant
Class 4- 4th year apprentices
6th Oliver Blatch; 5th Rob Overend; 4th Steven Cooper;
3rd Thomas Newhouse; 2nd Tom Middleton
1st Jake Elliott
Class 7- Intermediate
3rd Rob Bedford; 2nd Jason Brown; 1st Ben Taylor
Class 8- Open
3rd Andy Boyer; 2nd Jon Nunn; 1st Cody Gregory

Our judges for the day were Jon Atkinson and Charlie Hughes who both gave up their Sunday and had the mammoth task of marking over three hundred which they both did fantastically.
During the day hot food and refreshments were provided by Sue and Ed Bentham either warming up or cooling down the competitors and spectators before they commenced the second rounds in the afternoon.
Class 5- 1st &2nd year apprentices
6th Jamie Edwards; 5th Gregory Calvert; 4th Dain Atherden;
3rd Dan Rabin; 2nd James Stevens
1st Frazier Atherden
Class 6- 3rd & 4th year apprentices
6th Thomas Newhouse; 5th Robbie Watson Green; 4th James Elliott;
3rd Sean Mooney; 2nd Stuart McGaffin
1st Jake Elliott

The points for each competitor from both rounds were added up for the overall apprentice champion.
Reserve Champion - Dan Rabin
Apprentice Champion - Jake Elliott

Class 7- Intermediate
3rd Jason Brown; 2nd Rob Bedford; 1st Ben Taylor
Class 8- Open
3rd Jon Nunn; 2nd Tom Williams; 1st Matt Randles
The points from both rounds were again added together for the championships
Intermediate Shoemaking Championship
6th Matthew Burrows; 5th Disco Dave Jones; 4th Mark Gilliver;
3rd Jason Brown; 2nd Rob Bedford
1st Ben Taylor
Open Shoemaking Championship
6th Andy Boyer; 5th Elgan Harries; 4th David Lynch;
3rd Tom Williams; 2nd Cody Gregory
1st Jon Nunn

A special prize went to Maurice Guilfoyle the oldest competitor on the day who at 58 toiled in the heat with the rest of them, he shared his prise with his striker of 60 years old.
 
We hope to see you all again on Sunday 3rd February 2013.

DON'T FORGET TO SEND US YOUR RESULTS AND IMAGES

Forge Magazine, Fourteen Business Centre, 14 Town Street, Duffield DE56 4EH.

Email Forge Magazine

Gill Harris, Editor, Forge Magazine - Tel: 07773 790257

Forge Magazine endeavour to report and recognise any achievement to the farriery profession. If any results or achievements have been ommitted please send us an Email Forge or call us on 01332 843107.