Home International 2013

 

As published on pages 36 and 37 of Forge Magazine June 2013

 

This year’s Home International Master and Apprentice Competition was held at the Royal Bath & West Showground forge in Shepton Mallet on March 15th and 16th. England Team Manager, Nigel Fennell describes the competition.

Four teams – Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England - battled it out in four classes, team roadster shoeing (with fullered shoes and roadster calkin and wedge) along with the hunter shoeing (where tool and fullered shoes had to be made and applied to the feet). All the team apprentices had to make the specimen shoes in the relating classes and dress the feet accordingly, and later clench and finish the shod feet, while the master made the shoes for the feet and nailed the shoes on.
In the team coke shoemaking the teams were required to make a variety of specimen shoes, which led to the final class - the 80-minute team speed forging, an interesting relay class in which all eight members from each team had to complete one set of threequarter fullered shoes , 20 minutes per pair Master and Apprentice (10 minutes per man ). One competitor would start the shoe and at the 10-minute changeover point, the second pair would have to finish the shoe within the 20-minute period and so on – with booming rock music – which really gave a great atmosphere to this great speed class.
This year there were more classes for the reserve competitors, usually the reserves only get to compete in one shoemaking class, but this year they got to enjoy roadster, hunter shoeing classes along with a shoemaking class and they were included in the speed forging too. I felt this would offer encouragement to new reserve team members who hadn’t quite made the main team, but would get to enjoy and be a part of something more for the two days and reap some good competition experience along with the main teams.
Special thanks to all the teams for their practice and preparation and coming along to compete at this year’s Home International and shoeing the horses so well. The shoeing was first-class, which is quite something when it’s against the clock.
Results
Team Champions (Overall): England
Reserve Champions: Scotland
Best Shoeing Team: Scotland
Best Shoemaking and Speed Forging Team: England
Master, Show Champion: Steven Beane (England)
Apprentice, Show Champion: James Elliott (England)
Reserve Classes overall Champions: Scotland.

Organising the Home International began many months ago, but could not have been achieved without the help of Nigel Perrot and Nigel Philips for their relentless work in organising the horses for the competition, as well as their advice and help sourcing hotels and the evening venue, along with their magic work running the competition floor.
To the one and only – John Ford – a very special thanks for his input with the sound system and for running the music over the two days along with his firm: ‘Get off the floor if you’re not competing’ voice!
Thanks to the Worshipful Company of Farriers for the competition medals, 10 were awarded in total, and the presence of the Master who carried out the prize giving and medal presentation to the team champions, which was much appreciated.
This year’s event was well supported and warm thanks are offered to the following sponsors who were approached for support and kindly agreed.
Principal sponsors – Mustad and Louise Pehrsson; Arthur Cottam and Company; J & A Ferrie Farrier Supplies; Dany Elliott and Silverback Chaps; Handmade Shoes UK; Foremans Tools UK who provided one tonne of coke and Legge Brothers who provided the steel.
Other sponsorship was provided by Derek Gardner; Richard Ash Farrier Supplies; Jon Atkinson Farriers Tools; Georgio Bassoli (Italy) who also came over from Italy to watch the competiton and share his products; Swan Products; Londonderry Forge Farrier Supplies, Huw and Jackie Dyer; Darren Bazin and Baz Knives; GluShu and Jeff Newnham; Silverfeet and John Stanley and Directors of Silverfeet; Bates Tongs – Jez Bates Master Blacksmith .
To our three great Judges Andy Reader-Smith AWCF, Danny Mallender AWCF and Jonathan Nunn thank you for your tireless work and preparation of so many quality specimen shoes, your presence was greatly appreciated.
And, finally, a very special warm and thoughtful thank you to Billy Crothers of Handmade Shoe UK who personally attended the Home International prize giving. Billy presented a special prize to every team nation apprentice before introducing Danny Mallender to the younger generation by explaining why they were in the presence of a legend in farriery and how special it was to have him as one of the judges.
Billy also announced that the Handmade Shoes 2013 Shoemaking Competition will be held on July 27th. Interested competitiors can get details direct from Handmade Shoes direct or from the website.

Personal highlights
Seeing the horses so well shod under pressure ...
Amazing support from the sponsors ...
Competitors starting beating on hot steel exactly on the opening beat of the Rolling Stones, Doom and Gloom - genius
Finally, witnessing Steven Beane making a three quarter fullered shoe from 1 inch by half flat section from a pre-heat in just under 8½ minutes ... and then winning the class with it!

 

England Managers Message of thanks...
Well my First year as England Farriery Team manager has gone by so quickly and it has been an honour to be a part of a great team.
Firstly my thanks has to go to our sponsors who have been great in sharing the vision of enthusiasm to be associated and support the Team on this current sponsorship year it has been a privalidge to have you aboard.
Sponsors
Arthur Cottams & Company (Official Sponsors) have been amazing ! Jane & Paul and all the staff have shown so much support not only for the team but England Trials days both Senior and Apprentice but also sponsored the Home International as a princple sponsors. They will also be attending the England Trials on July 20th 2013 and sponsoring the day along with a package of prizes for the top 5 & goodie bags for all that attend .
Silverfeet & John Stanley and Directors,(Team Product & England Apprentice Sponsors) thankyou for your great product in Silverfeet a remarkable revolutionary new antibacterial hoof cream that offers a new dimension in hoof care. With special thanks to support towards our England Apprentice team .
Silverback Chaps & Dany Elliott (Product Sponsorship) thank you for your amazing Chaps and all the work toward the team Clothing this year along with attending every venue with the team its been great to have you aboard.
Darren Bazin "Baz Knives" (Product Sponsor) special thanks to Darren for supplying a whole range of his amazing knives for the team they have been a great working addition to the whole team at work aswell as at competitons
Eastlake & Beachell Insurance Services (Apprentice team Sponsors) Thankyou for your support and as any Farriers who use Eastlake will know there services to the Farriery industry have been with us for so many years now and they always find the best solution to your insurance needs.
"Cowboy" Aaron Kampfer my amazing photographer and friend who relentlessy took a whole host of great photos over this team year for all the sponsors aswell as shooting at the trials and practices and supplying the team members with there own pictures . His vision and ideas are mind blowing.And on behalf of myself and the team we were lucky to have you with us.
And finally to my team for this first year.. to Steven Beane-Matt Randles-Jon Atkinson-Gavin Golby & Ben Casserly. Thanks for all your hard work and time aswell as winning both the international and Home International. Also much thanks to my England apprentice team for their commitment and success, with special congratulations to James Elliott for two show champion Apprentice title wins at both the International and the Home International.
Thanks to all and look forward to the next team term.

 

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