NeW for 2011:
1. Strikers are only allowed to work the fire, brush shoes and us the sledgehammer to assist the competitors.
2. The CHC will select the recipients of the 4 member World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition entries by tracking the accumulated scores of the four people that YOU identify as your team throughout the contest. This will encourage teamwork and support continuity, providing the best opportunity for success.
NOTE: The free entry to the World Championship Blacksmiths' Competition is ONLY for those in which it is awarded. Substitions will only be permitted should a team member become ill or injured at the discretion of the CS Blacksmith Committee. No gifting of the entries is permitted.
Rules and regulations:
All work shall be judged according to the WCBC system as follows:
TIME LIMITS Time limits listed will be adhered to without exception. In horseshoeing competitions, contestants exceeding the time limit will not qualify for judging but will be required to complete the shoeing. Immediately upon expiration of the time, finished shoes must be placed on the anvil. No fitting of nails is allowed after time has expired. Any contestant contact with finished products after this time will result in disqualification. Contact with finished products by any persons not authorized by the WCBC Committee may result in disqualification of both the contestant who made said products and the second person (if that person is a contestant).
BARSTOCK All measurements will be given in metric (millimeters). All barstock dimensions will be given in metric but due to the fact that the barstock is made to Imperial measures, there may be small variances in actual barstock sizes stated. The following chart will demonstrate the comparison between the Imperial barstock used and the metric measurement given.
| 1/4" x 3/4" |
1/4" x 1" |
1/4" x 1 1/4" |
5/16" x 1" |
3/8" x 3/4" |
3/8" x 1" |
3/8" square |
3/8" x 1 1/4" |
1/2" square |
1/2" x 1" |
1/2" x 1 1/4" |
| 6mm x 20mm |
6mm x 25mm |
6mm x 33mm |
8mm x 25mm |
10mm x 20mm |
10mm x 25mm |
10mm x 10mm |
10mm x 33mm |
13mm x 13mm |
13mm x 25mm |
13mm x 33mm |
~ One piece of marked barstock per shoe per contestant will be issued just prior to each class. ~ Use of supplied barstock is mandatory. ~ If barstock is burned, additional stock may be issued only at the WCBC stewards? discretion. ~ All classes start with cold barstock. ~ Any placement of barstock in forge prior to class time will result in disqualification. ~ No marking of barstock prior to class time is permitted. ~ Barstock may be cold cut to length prior to start of each section. ~ If any welding is required, contestants must supply their own filler and/or flux. ~ All items made during the competition become property of WCBC. Marking of barstock prior to the class will result in disqualification.
COMPETITION AREA ~ All classes take place within a marked area. At time of each class, only contestants competing in that specific section are allowed in this area. Any other persons within this area must be authorized by WCBC Committee. ~ If a non-competing contestant has any contact with a currently competing contestant, both contestants face disqualification. ~ During horseshoeing classes, one horse handler is allowed. The horse handler may not aid, assist, advise or in any way become involved with contestant.
HORSES ~ Contestants will draw for horses from a selected group of horses. ~ Any mistreatment or abuse of a horse will result in disqualification of the contestant. ~ If a medical condition develops in a horse during a horseshoeing class, time for that contestant will be stopped and an examination conducted. If the condition is caused by the contestant, disqualification will result. If not, the contestant may continue without time penalty. ~ The contestant will be allowed 10 minutes from the commencement of the class to request a replacement horse, in case of the horse's unreasonable behaviour. In this situation the contestants time will be restarted and new barstock issued.
DISQUALIFICATION ~ Failure to comply to the Rules and Regulations as stipulated by the WCBC Committee will result in immediate disqualification from that class. ~ Contestants disqualified from any portion of the point classes will be allowed to compete in other classes for prize money and points, but will not advance to the top ten and can not be named the Canadian Champion Blacksmith. ~ Any contestant lodging a protest must make it in writing. Protest must state plainly the cause of complaint or appeal, and must be accompanied by a deposit of $50.00, which shall be forfeited to the Calgary Stampede if said protest is not sustained. The protest must be delivered to the agriculture office before 10:00 a.m. the day following the cause of protest and a receipt must be obtained.
EQUIPMENT ~ WCBC supplied shearing device is available to cut cold barstock prior to section start. Device use is not mandatory. ~ No mechanical or power devices are allowed. ~ Cleansing tools are allowed, however, no cleansing substances other than water may be used. ~ Prior to each class, contestants will be assigned a blacksmith unit. They are required to compete on the assigned unit unless otherwise authorized by stewards. ~ Use of supplied equipment (blacksmith unit) is compulsory. ~ Blacksmith units will be set up by authorized WCBC personnel. ~ Standard supplied equipment:
Kohlswa Blacksmith?s anvil - 200 lb. or 91 kg. mounted on Tripod Stand Coke forge - electric blower Free standing vice Water bucket Coke Fire tools - shovel, poker Sledge hammer where required for striker Foot stand
~ Contestants are to use their own hand tools, and are completely responsible for their own tools and equipment. ~ A supply of Mustad nails will be available for contestants to use. ~ If any welding is required, contestants must supply their own filler and/or flux.
TIE BREAKING In the event of a tie in a class placing, the following method will be used to determine a winner: Higher point score awarded in descending order of priority:
1) Nail Placement
2) Dimensions
3) Nail Fit
4) Forging
5) Level
6) Finishing
A point total tie which cannot be broken by the above method, will require the judges review of judging sheets/comments, and re-examination of finished feet.
