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.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nbcc-student-comp-piece-shepards-crook.pdf
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.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/scan_20230911_141810_red.pdf
The Last in the list of Blacksmith Competitions that make up the National Blacksmith Champion Competition the Dorset is always a nice Show to round off the Competition calendar. This year Chief Steward Simon Grant Jones has handed over responibilitry for the Competitions to the Blacksmiths Guild (Guild Of Wrought Ironwork Craftsmen Of Wessex). Thanks for all your hard work Simon. The Blacksmith Guild will be running their own competitions alongside the National Competition.
The schedule and entry forms for the Competition can be found on the Dorset County Show website. https://dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/compete/
Always nice to see photos from the Competitions and Shows so be sure to tag us in or send copies to us 🙂 we’ll always try to credit you with the photography.
This is a good one… Westpoint Showground near Exeter.
NBCC Blacksmith Competition 