report
Handmade Shoes
(UK) Shoemaking
Competition and
Summer Ball
The fifth Handmade Shoes (UK) Competition and Summer Ball took place
on Saturday 25th July with record numbers attending to compete for
their share of the £15,000 prize fund. Ever increasing in popularity, the
competition attracted a total of 112 competitors including visitors from
Ireland and France.
Each year the competition has been fortunate reaffirmed his skills in this class with a win for the
to welcome some of the most highly respected second year running. Andy made a fully fullered
working farriers to judge and this year was no front shoe with a toe clip. Also victorious in their
exception. Andrew Casserly, regular member sections were Jack Casserly (1st/2nd year),
of the English Farrier Team and Reserve World Charlie Sands (3rd/4th year) and Jason Gajczak
Champion in 2007, judged the ‘3rd/4th year (intermediate).
apprentice’ and ‘advanced’ sections. Rob
The final class, the ‘MFC Tools Judges Surprise’
Renirie, farrier to the Dutch Dressage and Show
consisted of two shoes of the judge’s choice for
Jumping Olympic Teams for the past four
each section. The 1st/2nd year apprentices had
Olympics, judged the ‘1st/2nd year apprentice’
a ‘preventer’ and a ‘corn bar shoe’, the 3rd/4th
and ‘intermediate’ sections.
year apprentices had a ‘cob bevel’ and a ‘lateral
Following a welcome from Billy and Lucy
extension bar shoe’ and the ‘open’ competitors
Crothers, the competitors were introduced to
a ‘toe-weighted shoe’ and a ‘deep seated bar
the specimen shoes for each class. A chance to
shoe’. With the competitors not knowing in
ask questions was provided before getting the
advance the shoes in this class, and, therefore,
first class, ‘The Derek Gardner Front and Hind
no time for practise pre-competition day, this
Shoes’ under way. Competitors had 40 minutes
class tested the flexibility and range of forging
to make one front and one hind with the 1st/2nd
skills. Ben Taylor (1st/2nd year apprentices),
year apprentices making one toe clipped
James Haigh (3rd/4th year apprentices), Leon
front and one side clipped hind from concave
Bentham/Paul Horner (intermediate) and
bar stock, while the 3rd/4th year apprentices
Darren Bazin (advanced) capitalised fully on the
made a three quarter fullered toe-clipped front
opportunity to secure valuable championship
and a three quarter fully toe-clipped hind. The
points with wins in this class. Darren Bazin
‘open’ competitors (intermediate and advanced
sections) made a toe-clipped fully fullered
The much-awaited summer ball and
front and a side-clipped three quarter fullered
presentation dinner has become a highlight in
Championship Results
hind. Ben Taylor (1st/2nd year), Tom Galloway
the farriery social calendar. Just less than 350
(3rd/4th year), Ben Casserly (intermediate) and
farriers and friends attended for an evening of 1st/2nd Year Apprentices Championship
Gary Darlow (advanced) stole an early lead on
celebrations. With dinner over, the championship
1. Ben Taylor (208.0); 2. J. C. Lee (181.0);
the championship board with wins in the first
results, and winners of the coveted ‘Emily’s
3. Tom Williams (175.0); 4. Jack Casserley
class.
Birthday Trophy’, were announced. In the
(168.0); 5. James Elliot (165.0); 6. Harry Meek
1st/2nd year apprentices, Ben Taylor was
The ‘Jim Blurton Bar Shoe Challenge’, the
(161.0); 7. Tom Wait (143.0); 8. Dale Harland
crowned Champion with J. C. Lee Reserve
second class followed. A pair of three quartered
(139.0); 9. Ryan Darbyshire (135.0); 10. Sammy
Champion. James Haigh held on to his early
fullered egg bars were required within 50
O'Gara (135.0)
lead in the 3rd/4th year apprentices to secure
minutes from the 1st/2nd year apprentices,
the Championship, with Richard Slater Reserve 3rd/4th Year Apprentices Championship
a pair of three quarter fullered straight bars
Champion. Jason Gajczak was Champion in
from the 3rd/4th year apprentices and a pair
1. James Haigh (229.0); 2. Richard Slater
the intermediate section with Ben Casserly
of three quarter fullered heart bars from the
(215.0); 3. George Hutchins (202.0);
close behind as Reserve and winner of the
‘open’ competitors. With the top half a dozen
4. Dan Preece (201.0); 5. Joel Morris (201.0) ;
advanced section was this year’s Reserve World
in each section producing some excellent work,
6. Martin Pearson (186.0); 7. Tom Galloway
Champion in Calgary, Darren Bazin, with Royal
the judge’s had no easy task. Tom Williams (185.0) ; 8. Matt Alderman (173.0) ; 9. Andrew
Show Champion 2009, Gary Darlow, Reserve
(1st/2nd year), James Haigh (3rd/4th year), David Smith (160.0); 10. Harry Garner (148.0)
Andrew Bowyer (intermediate) and Jon Atkinson
Champion.
(advanced) secured wins in their sections.
The annual charity auction in aid of Cancer
Intermediate Championship
Following lunch the ‘Yukon Forge One Heat
Research had some tremendous prizes donated
1. Jason Gajczak (127.0); 2. Ben Casserley
Shoe Fast and Furious’ took place. Following
by farriers, equine professionals and local
(126.0); 3. Andrew Bowyer (118.0); 4. Leon
a three- minute pre-heat period, competitors
business and raised a fantastic £8335. The
Bentham (106.0); 5. David Dawson (105.0);
had 15 minutes to forge a shoe of their choice,
celebrations continued into the early hours and a
6. Thomas Richards (103.0); 7. John Hick
in a material of their choice, to the highest
brilliant time was had by all.
(100.0); 8. Billy Scott (99.0); 9. Tom Farmer
possible standard. With the metal cooling
Billy and Lucy Crothers thank the sponsors for (98.0); 10. Andrew James (98.0)
quickly, competitors must race against the
their generous support, the staff at Handmade
clock, working efficiently and with precision. The
Shoes for their hard work and the competition
Open Championship
shoes were judged on the quality of forging and stewards who gave up their time. A special
1. Darren Bazin (169.0); 2. Gary Darlow (156.0);
the degree of difficulty involved. Each year the thank you also to James Henderson for kind
3. Jon Atkinson (149.0); 4. Paul Duddy (143.0);
standard of shoes made in this class surpasses permission of the use of his field and marquee,
5. Andy Martin (140.0); 6. David Smith (139.0);
the previous year, and this year was no and also to all the competitors and those that 7. Ricky Hilton (136.0); 8. Mark Watson (120.0);
exception; the variety and level of craftsmanship attended in the evening to celebrate the day’s 9. Nigel Brown (115.0); 10. Andy Reader-Smith
was quite remarkable. Andy Martin (advanced) events and to support such a worthwhile charity. (111.0)
20 Forge | October 2009
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