The National Blacksmith Champion Competition

The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths (WCOB) provides a silver challenge cup (Static display only), monetary awards and a certificate for the National Blacksmith Champion (NBC) and Reserve National Blacksmith Champion . For the National Blacksmith Champion Live Forging and Reserve National Blacksmith Champion Live Forging monetary awards and certificates are given. There are four National awards in total. The award winners are the Blacksmiths who have competed consistently and accumulated the most points on the NBC circuit made up of participating Shows (a list can be found on the side menu of the Home page).

The National awards are:

National Blacksmith Champion (static displays) wins a Certificate and £1000 cheque prize money

Reserve National Blacksmith Champion (static displays) wins a Certificate and £500 cheque prize money

National Blacksmith Champion Live Forging (live forging competition) wins a Certificate and £1000 cheque prize money

Reserve National Blacksmith Champion Live Forging (live forging competition) wins a Certificate and £500 cheque prize money

The Show Champion Competition

In addition the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths awards each of the participating Shows that make up the Champion Blacksmith Circuit monetary awards and a certificate for the Champion Blacksmith and Runner Up in the Static and Live Forging Competitions. There are four awards per Show regardless of the Classes each Show may offer. The Winners and Runners Up are Judged by a NBCC (National Blacksmith Competition Committee) accredited Judge and using Score cards approved by WCOB….. to see a copy of a score card please use this link https://blacksmithcompetition.wordpress.com/the-competition/the-score-card/

The Show awards are:

Blacksmith Champion (static displays) wins a Certificate and £250 cheque prize money

Reserve Blacksmith Champion (static displays) wins a Certificate and £125 cheque prize money

Blacksmith Champion Live Forging (live forging competition) wins a Certificate and £250 cheque prize money

Reserve Blacksmith Champion Live Forging (live forging competition) wins a Certificate and £125 cheque prize money

How do you establish Winning entries and Runner Up places?

In multiple classes (Static or Live Forging) it can be difficult to find an overall winner without a Scorecard. So the winners of each class are judged again on a new Scorecard, This will establish an overall winner called ‘Champion’. To find a Runner Up another new card is used where the 2nd place of the Class the Champion came from is judged against the remaining winners or the Classes who missed out on being Champion.

This is done for both the Static and Live Forging Competitions. In Shows where there is only one Class judged which is quite often a single Live Forging Class, the Champion and Runner Up are the same as 1st and 2nd place. In multiple classes as most Static Competitions are there can be unexpected Champions and Reserve Champions which validates the use of a Scorecard to ensure accountability, fairness and integrity throughout.

Rules for the National Blacksmith Champion and National Blacksmith Champion Live Forging competitions

1. The awards will be given annually.
2. Shows that have applied to and shown a high standard of design and craft are invited to host qualifying heats for the National Blacksmith Champion and National Champion Live Forging awards on behalf of the National Blacksmith Competition Committee.
3. Shows taking part in a qualifying heat must select at least one judge from the selection, for the forthcoming year, of the three or four nominated by the judges appointment panel. If any of these judges are not acceptable for that specific show, then they may, in consultation with the judge appointment panel invite another accredited judge to their show. The judge/s selected will act as the final arbiter/s of the winners of the heat for both awards. Judges are only permitted to judge at one qualifying show. Reserve regional judges are available through the National Blacksmith Competition Committee (NBCC). Marking system and Scorecards issued by the NBCC in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths must be used by all judges assessing competition entries.
4. Most Shows have more than one competition class, the procedure for deciding the NBC Champion Blacksmith and Runner up starts with using two new NBC marking cards (separate from those used for individual classes). On the first card the Champion Blacksmith will be selected by rejudging all the first places in the classes.The winner of which will be the Champion Blacksmith. On the second card the Runner up (Reserve) Champion Blacksmith will be selected by rejudging the remaining first places along with the second place from the class the Champion came from, the winner of which will be the Runner up (Reserve) Champion Blacksmith.
5. Points will be awarded at each of the authorized shows as follows:- Show Champion 10 points, Reserve Show Champion 4 points, Live Forging Champion 10 points Reserve Live Forging Champion 4 points
6. Competitors may enter more than one piece at a show but all the entries must be judged and marked individually. Marks for several entries will not be averaged or aggregated.
7. The Blacksmith resident in the UK gaining most show Champion points will be declared the Champion Blacksmith of the year.
8. The Champion Blacksmith of the year will be awarded a challenge trophy that they hold for a year, a certificate to keep as a permanent reminder, and a cheque prize. In addition the Reserve Show Champion will be awarded a certificate and a cheque prize. The Live Forging Champion will be awarded a certificate and a cheque prize The Reserve Live Forging Champion receives a a certificate and a cheque prize.
9. The winning and reserve piece (pieces) of the National Blacksmith Champion are not eligible for a National Blacksmiths Competition awards again. All the prizes will be presented at the awards lunch of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in October. The Trophy for the National Blacksmith Champion must be returned to the Learned Clerk of the Worshipful Company by the 1st of October in the following year.
10. Secretaries (or their appointed steward) of the qualifying shows must ensure that the marking cards, complete with all competitors names and the classes descriptions, are sent as soon as possible after the show to the NBCC secretary whose address is shown on the homepage. Photographs of the winning exhibits should be included.
11. If results are not returned to the NBCC secretary, they will not be included in calculating the overall winners of the competition.The results received by the secretary will be tabled and presented to the committee at the Autumn AGM to establish the winners and runners up. In the event of a tie in the table of marks to find the National Champions, three qualified judges from, or appointed by, the National Blacksmiths Competition Committee will deliberate on the tied entries to come to a definitive decision. If the winning exhibited pieces are not available to be examined, then the judges will consider the relevant marks on the show marking cards that have been returned to the NBCC secretary. The final results will then be submitted to the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. The aim of the awards is to promote Blacksmithing and to encourage other shows to hold wrought ironwork competitions and to apply to join the circuit.