FORTY-eight farriers from Ireland, England, Scotland, Poland and Australia travelled to Newbridge in Co Kildare for the 12th Annual Newbridge Horseshoeing Championship.

Channon’s forge played host and was a hive of activity for two days as the entrants worked against the clock and under the eagle eye of expert judge Mark Watson, FWCF who hails from Nottingham, England, to be crowned champion in their respective classes.

Ten classes were contested during the weekend including a shoemaking class for ladies which was won by Emily Vial from Co Limerick.

Eddie Channon, organiser of the event, was delighted with the high standard demonstrated throughout the competition and stated that the aim of the competition was to maintain the craft at a high standard and that it was also about giving apprentice farriers the opportunity to learn new skills and tricks of the trade.

AWARDS

Four prestigious medals were awarded to competitors by the Worshipful Company of Farriers, which is a major honour as this is only the third time in the Republic of Ireland that these medals have been awarded, and the second time at Newbridge Horseshoeing Championship.

The medals were awarded to the following farriers who excelled in their skills at the event:

  • Marcus Telford and James Robison (apprentice medals)
  • Bryan O’Halloran
  • Leon Bentham

    • The competition concluded with a gala dinner in Lawlor’s Hotel in Naas where the most popular winner of the weekend, Bryan O’Halloran from Connemara, was awarded with first place in the Intermediate Shoeing Class.

    RESULTS

    1st and 2nd Year Apprentice Shoemaking Class: Marcus Telford, Comer, Co Down

    3rd and 4th Year Apprentice Shoemaking Class: James Robinson, Gloucestershire, England

    Apprentice Eagle Eye Class: James Robinson, Gloucestershire, England

    Intermediate Shoemaking Class: Trent Bell, New South Wales, Australia

    Intermediate Horseshoeing Class: Bryan O’Halloran, Connemara, Co Galway

    Open Shoemaking Class: Greg Calvert, Cheshire, England

    Open Horseshoeing Class: Leon Bentham, Cheshire, England

    Master Eagle Eye Class: Bryan O’Halloran, Connemara, Co. Galway

    Ladies Shoemaking Class: Emily Vial, Co Limerick

    Pairs Horseshoeing Class: Alwyn McKeown and Martin Payne

    Champion Apprentice: James Robinson, Gloucestershire, England

    Champion Master: Leon Bentham, Cheshire, England