World Championship Blacksmiths will be returning to Calgary after a 5-year hiatus to launch a new international contest that promises more lucrative prizes at a premier site.
The Calgary Stampede hosted its final World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition in July 2014, creating a void in crowning the top farrier.
“The WCB has teamed up with Spruce Meadows to bring a world championship contest to decide once again a world champion with a guaranteed prize of $50,000 to the winner,” according to a Facebook post by World Championship Blacksmiths. “[It’s] all for the good of the horse and to showcase excellence in farriery!”
Craig Trnka, chief operating officer of WCB, could not be reached for comment.
The venue is best known for hosting the Spruce Meadows Masters, which is part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
When the Calgary Stampede ended its 35-year contest in 2014, officials said the move was made for a bigger and better farrier-related event.
“We’re looking for a way to present blacksmithing with an even heightened profile,” Bonni Clark, Calgary Stampede media spokeswoman told American Farriers Journal. “We have a strong track record of refreshing our program, of presenting our livestock shows in different and exciting ways.”
North Yorkshire, England, farrier Steven Beane captured the final World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition in 2014.
The Stampede’s new program in 2015 involved daily demonstrations and a 3-day competition. The contest was won by the World Championship Blacksmiths team of Tom Peterson of Bozeman, Mont.; Dusty Franklin of Minco, Okla.; Cody Gregory of Lamar, Mo.; and Lamar Weaver of Denver, Pa. The winning team received $8,000, plus four full sets of tools and a tool bag.