published in ANVIL Magazine, December 1996
Wales dominated this year's Stoneleigh International, with Bill Crothers taking the Individuals and Wales taking the Team contest. Twelve teams vied for honors: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The British Army, Canada, U.S.A., France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Sweden. David P. Smith (Judge A), of England, and James Findler (Judge B), of Canada officiated the judging.
The competitions commenced on Saturday, August 24, with the Individual Competition and continued through the 26th. They are held at Stoneleigh Agricultural Centre, the head office of the Forge of the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths & Agricultural Engineers.
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
For this competition, the competitors have to make a 3/4 fullered shoe on
the foot and a calkin and wedge plain-stamped roadster shoe specimen, allocated
with hammer-drawn clips made from 262mm x 25mm x 12m flat bar. Drawings of
the shoes are sent to the competitors prior to the competition in order that
they may practice making the shoes. The time allowed for each competitor
is 50 minutes and no striker is allowed. Individual winners were: Bill Crothers,
Wales, first; Sandy Beveridge, Scotland, second; Derek Gardner, Scotland,
third; Mark Evans, Wales, fourth; Ian Allison, England, fifth; and Richard
Ellis, Wales, sixth.
TEAM FARRIERY COMPETITION
Team Farrier Competition consists of a team of four, and each team is required
to shoe a horse all around with 3/4 fullered shoes, front shoe bob punched,
hind shoe clips to be hammer drawn. Each judge provides a specimen shoe and
will judge shoes made to his specimen. Drawings of this shoe are sent to
the competitors before the competition. Time allowed is 60 minutes with a
15-minute changeover. All competitors work in pairs, one striking for the
other. The first pair of the team shoe the left front and left hind feet
in the morning, judged by Judge 'A' and the second pair shoe the right front
and right hind feet in the afternoon and judged by Judge 'B.' Each judge
only judges shoes made to his specimen. Scores for the Team Gas Forging
Competition were added to the Team event scores.
TEAM RESULTS (TEAM SCORE)
GAS FORGE SHOEMAKING
A Team Gas Forge Shoemaking also took place, as well as a two- part Live
Forging Championship. Urs Wuersch of Switzerland placed first; Gunter Nenning
of Austria, second, and Wilfried Wallner of Austria, third.
A special prize from the sponsor, A.J. Pledger & Co., was awarded to Billy Crothers (Wales) and the Special Bob Marshall from Canada Prize went to Darren Bazin (England). The prize consists of an all-expenses-paid trip to Bob Marshall's Farriery Clinic in Canada, which takes place in April, 1997.
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