This is the piece that the Students are asked to make either on-site at Hereford on 9th March 2024 or at their own College under competition conditions and sent to Hereford for judging on 9th March
There is a downloadable PDF at this link https://championblacksmith.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/nbcc-student-comp-piece-shepards-crook.pdf
Just over three weeks to go until the NBCC Seminar and 1st round of the National Blacksmith Competitions. The event is kindly being hosted by Hereford College and is shaping up to be a great day. There are over 30 Student entries in the Live Forging student competition and the Open (Professional) Class is filling up too. If you want more details or to get involved you can enter using this link https://championblacksmith.co.uk/entry-booking-form-for…/
For details of the set Student Live Forging Competition here’s a link to a downloadable PDF https://championblacksmith.co.uk/live-forging-student-competition-2024/
The National Blacksmith Competition Committee (NBCC) is proud to announce their annual Judging Seminar and the First Round of the National Blacksmith Championship to be held on Saturday 9th March 2024 to be held at The National School of Blacksmithing, Hereford.
Building upon the success of this years (2023) Judging Seminar and fun Competition in March, the Committee has expanded the format to create a ‘super’ First Round of the National Championship kick starting the further eight Regional Competitions held throughout the Summer that make up the National Blacksmith Championship.
It is hoped that this ‘super’ Round will encourage even more Blacksmiths to enter in the Live Forging Competition held at Hereford College Forge and bring their best ‘Static’ show pieces to be Judged alongside the Judging Seminar. The Prize money offered by Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths (WCOB) is substantial, at £250 for 1st and £125 for reserve in the Live Forging and Static Competitions, there will be further cash prizes to 4th place and place cards to 6th.
Following the support and post-event interest in March’s Student Competition, the Committee decided to increase the Student involvement too. So, a near identical Competition will be run alongside the ‘Open’ (professional) Competition but just for Students. There will be prizes for them too, as well as a CPD attendance Certificate for their CV’s.
The March 2024 Competition Schedule will be similar to the one earlier this year; 90 minutes for the Open Class, Professionals asked to ‘make whatever you like’ preceded by the Student ‘Set Piece’ Competition which will be maximum of 60 minutes time tapering to 50 and 40 minutes depending on year group. The Static (Show) Competition again is a Open (professional) and a Student Class. Unusually, there is no further criteria except the work you bring, should be of your own making and predominantly of a forged nature (this is a Blacksmithing Competition), any method of construction, any design or style. It can be something that you have entered in regional Competitions previously but not won a regional round of the National Blacksmith Championship. The work must be portable (stairs) and fit through a regular classroom door. Ideally self supporting tabletop items are perfect. Does your item need a frame or stand to show it off to its best? Yes? Well, make one and display your work at its best view (good practice for the Shows?).
As in previous years the Judging Seminar will take place in the afternoon and will be hosted by Adrain Legge LWCB FWCB. The Seminar is a vital training tool for Judges as well as an educational experience for anyone interested in Wrought Ironwork. Work is assessed and judged in real time but discussed as a group making a process that is usually subjective into a truly objective discussion. As a Competitor, Show Steward or Judge this experience is priceless and is transferable into business practice, pricing and marketing.
Further details will be released nearer the event date.
This is not a NBCC event but the committee has been asked to help promote it.
Hall 2, NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LH Sunday 28th October 2023.
The British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association (BFBA) are holding their annual ‘Focus on Forging’ Event (FOCUS23) at Hall 2, NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LH.
This year the BFBA with the help of the Wessex Guild of Blacksmiths (The Guild) are hosting a Blacksmith team (Pairs) Live Forging competition on Sunday 29th October 2023. The event is over the whole weekend (28th and 29th) but the Forge is handed over to the blacksmiths on the Sunday.
The competition is to forge a ‘Swingle Tree’ or ‘Whipple Tree’ or spreader bar in 2 hours to a drawing supplied by the organisers (picture below). Material and any special tools will be supplied by the organisers likewise there will be a coal forge/fire, fuel, anvil(s) and mounted leg vice to use. The forge area is undercover. Competitors are to bring their own hand tools. sledge and PPE protective gear. .There’s no clean up time and no spare materials.
Entries are by telephone 07984 808445 or email holly@bfba.co.uk it costs £10 per team and I’m told if you enter the competition you get free entry to to FOCUS23 exhibition and facilities.
1st Prize Trophy with £200 cash, 2nd place £150, 3rd place £75 and 4th place £ 25…… I guess you’ll need some coins so you can divide up the prize money? 🙂 there will be place cards to 6 x places.
There are some details on the event at https://www.forgeandfarrier.co.uk/event/bfba-focus-2023/
And a downloadable PDF drawing of the ‘Swingle Tree’ can be found here https://championblacksmith.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/scan_20230911_141810_red.pdf
Not a NBCC event, but a bit of fun and a chance for Blacksmiths to meet up in the South West… on 24th November 2023 St.Clements Day Celebrations are held at Finch Foundry, Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2NW
There’s lots of Blacksmith things going on including Demonstrations and Competitions.
This year there is the usual competition “TO BE CONFIRMED” in 120 minutes (bring your tools and materials) and the Great Snail Race where you have to make a snail that is free standing out of 200m of 10mm rd bar in the shortest possible time.
For more details talk to
finchfoundry@nationaltrust.org.uk
A link to a PDF invite can be found here St.Clements Day at The Finch Foundry.
Well that’s it for another year, the Dorset County Show was the last of the County Show regional competitions. The results in detail can be found at Championship points table 2023
Congratulations to….
National Champion Blacksmith: Adam Greenwell (64 points)
National Reserve Champion Blacksmith: Simon Hall (36 points)
National Live Forging Champion: Simon Hall (34 points)
National Live Forging Reserve Champion: Josh Masey (22 points)
These guys will now be officially recognized by the National Blacksmith Competition Committee and have their details forwarded to the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths who will in turn invite them to the Autumn luncheon in the City of London where they will receive their National Champion Prizes… and have a few celebratory drinks and nibbles.
The Blacksmiths Guild have expanded upon the original NBCC based Show competition to run in addition to the existing schedule https://dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/compete/ a Blacksmiths Guild competition and ‘Have-a-Go’ sessions at this year’s Show. The above flier gives you an idea of whats on offer. I guess you need to contact them direct to enter? Their Dorset Show specific website is https://www.blacksmithscompetition.com/
Only six weeks to go, the schedule is available here https://blacksmithcompetition.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/printed-schedule-2023-1.pdf
And an Entry Form here https://blacksmithcompetition.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/printed-schedule-2023-1.pdf dont forget that entry fees are capped at 5 x entries so every entry after that is free and Edenbridge & Oxted entry fees are currently the cheapest on the circuit.
NBCC Blacksmith Competition 