http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/ (c) 2007 jimblurtt.co.uk All Rights Reserved Ricky Hilton has been selected to represent the UK in the forthcoming European Skills championship to be held in Rotterdam in September.   Along with his close friend and rival Ben Casserly (pictured below) they will carry the hopes of Great Britain to this prestigous event. Considered by their peers and many established world class farriers as the best apprentices on the competiton cicuit for many years, Ben and Ricky are proudly sponsored by Jim Blurton Farrier Tools. In the past two years they have won every competition achievable. Ben was recently crowned National Apprentice Champion at Stonleigh with Ricky finishing a close second. The tables were turned at the recent Handmade Shoes competition with Ricky taking the honours. With both these rising stars using Jim Blurton Tools they are certain to progress further. Their selection for the UK Skills team is the pinnacle of their competition careers so far. They will travel to Rotterdam with a lot of confidence and are many poeples favourites to collect the honours. Ben is apprentice to his father Andrew Casserly and has a lot to live up to with his father being a regular memebr of the strong English team and he is also a reserve World Champion. Ricky is an apprentice at Forden Farriers with Jim Blurton as his master. The undoubted talents of Ricky have been nurtured by Jim a World Champion Farrier and long standing member of the Welsh Team. The competion in the forge at Forden creates a winning mentality with both Jim and Ricky gathering many honours this year.   http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/testing-2008-07-11.php Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:00:00 UTC 12 farriery teams from across the world took part in the hotly contested Team Horse Shoeing Championships held on bank holiday weekend at The Forge, Stoneleigh. Organised and run by the UK’s National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers, this competition includes the prestigious Individual Championship as well as the hotly contested World Team Championship title. Each team, consisting of five farriers, is selected to represent their country in a gruelling competition covering three days. The judge’s this year, Jim Balfour (Scotland) and Bruce Hague (Canada), completed the unenviable task of rigorously evaluating and marking each part of the competition. The Welsh Team consisting of Billy Crothers (Mentmore, Buckinghamshire), Grant Moon (Chebsey, Stafford), Andy Martin (Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire), Jim Blurton (Forden, Welshpool) and reserve Nigel Brown, (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire) presented an exceptionally high standard of work at every stage of the competition whilst demonstrating a strong sense of belief and team spirit.   The Individual Championship was won by Grant Moon which was made all the more remarkable by the fact that Grant had won this tile previously in 1985, a gap of 23 years. Billy Crothers followed in 6th with Andy Martin and Nigel Brown in 10th and 12th respectively. Billy Crothers also took the special prize for the Best Specimen Shoe.   The Team Championship, starting in earnest with ‘gas shoemaking’ on Saturday afternoon saw the English team gain a brief lead in the competition just 0.6 marks ahead of Wales with Scotland 0.8 marks behind in third place. With all to play for in the Team Shoeing on the Sunday, the Welsh team pulled out all the stops with a fine performance to comfortably secure the Team Championship title 2.4 marks ahead of England with Scotland third, Ireland fourth and the USA fifth.   As a competitor and manager of the welsh Team, Jim Blurton stated that it was the best final days performance from any team in the last ten years. “The standard was very high this year but the Welsh Team produced some fantastic work throughout the weekend to clinch a hard fought victory”  With Billy Crothers, Grant Moon and Jim Blurton all World Champion Farriers the bar was set very high and with the talents of Andy and Nigel Wales truly are on Top of the World!     http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/test-2-2008-07-18.php Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:00:00 UTC 2008 has been a successful one for Jim Blurton and the team at Forden Farriers. It started early for many of the team with the Ayrshire Branch Competitition on the 4th & 5th April. Ricky Hilton started the competition season well being crowned overall apprentice champion with Julia Cheney finishing in the top five. Will Grattam also impressed the judges at the competition and was unlucky not to come away with any prizes.  (Ricky Hilton receiving his award at J&A Ferries Competition) It was then the turn of Jim to impress in the European Farriers Championship held at Hansepferd, Hamburg on the 18th, 19th April. As part of the British team Jim helped clinch the European Team title for Great Britain and a fine performance saw him finish fourth in the individual competition behind England\'s Steven Beane who was crowned European Champion. Leicester County Show, 4th - 5th May, was the next destination and Ricky again took the honours with Julia Cheney a close fourth. Devon County Show, 15th - 17th May, quickly followed and once again Ricky took the honours with some superb shoemaking. Forden Farriers director Elgan Harries started his campaign with some fantastic shoeing winning the Hunter shoeing class. After two days of gruelling competiton he crowned Open Reserve Champion being narrowly beaten by his Welsh team mate Nigel Brown.  (The specimen that won Elgan the Hunter Shoeing Class at Devon) Ricky and his close friend and rival Ben Casserly, both sponsored by Jim Blurton farrier Tools, would spend most of the year contesting the major events. However Julia Cheney would fight them all the way for honours and at Stafford County Show, 28th & 29th May, she won the Restricted Roadster Shoeing competition. (Julia Cheney receives her prize from judge, Carl Bettison) Next on the honours list was Jim. A top class field from all over Europe gathered at the prestigious Bath & West Show. After 4 hard fought days of competition a masterly display of shoemaking and shoeing saw Jim crowned Show Champion. (Jim Blurton receiving his prizes at the Royal Bath & West) The success was infectious and by the time the Three Counties Show, 13th - 15th June, arrived the Forden team were in full swing. Another masterful display of shoemaking and shoeing saw Jim again crowned overall Show Champion. Not to be outdone the international members of our team took first and third place in the Restricted Hunter Shoeing competition. Simen Krog our Norwegian International gained the honours with our adopted Kiwi Gary Morley finishing third. Katie Grose also joined the roll of honour with a superb victory in the 2nd year apprentice class.   (Simen Krog competing at the Three Counties) The Royal Show, 3rd - 6th July was was the next target and Ricky again showed his talents being crowned Reserve Apprentice Champion behind Ben Casserly with Julia finishing third. Jim was not to be out done and won the  Best Shod Foot for the second year running. (Jim\'s Best Shod Foot) Newport Show, 19th July, saw Elgan demonstrate some superb shoemaking and shoeing skills to take the title of overall Champion. This success was quickly followed at  Royal Welsh Show, 21st - 24th July. Competing in the only 4 days of hot weather Wales has seen this year Elgan won the Open Shoemaking and was second in the Open Hunter competition. Julia also had a superb show and put in an excellent performance to be crowned Apprentice Champion. (Elgan Harries at the Royal Welsh Show) The Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Shoemaking Competition, 26th July, one of the most keenly contested shoemaking competitions of the year, with a prize fund of over £10,000 and over 100 compeitors saw Forden Farriers take a strong team. Fresh from the Royal Show and keen to avenge his defeat at the hands of Ben Casserly, Ricky put in some excellent performances throughout the day and was dully rewarded with third and fourth year apprentice Champion with Ben third and Julia a close fourth. Katie was not to be out done after finished a creditable 9th in the first and second year apprentice championships. Simen Krog lead the way in the restricted championship for most of the day but narrowly missed out on the championship by just 1 point. His Reserve Champion was creidt to him in his debut in this competition. Dai Calko also performed well in the third and fourth year apprentice classes narrowly missing out on the prizes. (Davey Calko at the Handmadeshoes Competition) The Lowther Horse Shoeing and Shoemaking Competition, Saturday 9th August saw the return of the "dream team" in the form of Ricky and Jim. Successful in last years Master and Apprentice at Hereford they once again paired up to contest this keenly fought competition. It was again a successful partnership winning the Two Man Roadster Shoeing and gaining the prize for the Best Dressed Feet. Peover Shoemaking Competition 17th August, saw Ricky continue his good form winning the Apprentice Championship with Simen finishing an excellent fourth in the Open competition. The World Team Championships saw Wales wrestle the title away from Enlgand. As a stalwart of the team for over 20 years Jim was honoured to be manger this year and collect the trophy. The championships saw teams from all over the world compete for this sought after title. Three days of  fierce competiton saw Wales clinch the title with a fantastic final days performance. (The successful Welsh Team, L - R: Grant Moon, Billy Crothers, Jim Blurton and Andy Martin) The competition season has not ended yet but so far it has been a very successful year for all involved at Forden Farriers. It was made even better with the annoucement of Jim winning the Best Shod Eventer at the recent Buliegh Horsetrails, which complements the success he had at Gatcombe Park where he also won the Best Shod Eventer.  http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/test-3-2008-07-18.php Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:00:00 UTC Jim Blurton Tools is proud to launch a new set of tongs. The tongs have been redesigned to incorporate a cross hair cut in the jaws significantly improving the grip of the teeth. The tongs are made from polished stainless steel and forged from one piece of steel for strength and durability. The round reigns provide a strong comfortable grip and give the tongs a look and feel that is unsurpassed. They are available in sizes 1/4”(6mm) , 5/16”(8mm) , 3/8”(10mm) , 7/16”(11mm), 1/2”(12mm) and 5/8”(16mm) and come with the guarantee that quality and functionality have been rigorously tested in everyday use.   http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/new-tongs-from-jim-blurton-2008-10-28.php Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 UTC Jim Blurton, is the winner of the 2008 Horse Trust Open Farriery Competition. Jim won the award, which included a perpetual rose bowl trophy and a cheque for £250, in a farriery contest at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Competitors were required to participate in two classes – Hunter shoeing and Therapeutic shoeing. Points were awarded for each class and Jim was the overall winner – 23 years since he first won a competition title. “It was a hard-fought competition and the tasks required are some of the most challenging of the competitions held each year, utilising some centuries-old skills of farriery,” Jim said. “I’m delighted to have won and look forward to defending my title next year.” The Championship was initiated 2 years ago by The Horse Trust to mark its investment in the art, craft and science of farriery as a vital contribution to the welfare of the horse. http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/jim-blurton-wins-the-horse-trust-open-farriery-competition-2009-01-07.php Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 UTC Ben Casserly (21) from Uckfield and Ricky Hilton (22) from Welshpool, Powys have won gold and silver at EuroSkills 2008, the biggest European skills competition for young people. Ricky is apprentice to the 2005 World Champion Jim Blurton whilst Ben is apprentice to the England International Andrew Casserly. Both of these exceptional talents are sponsored by Jim Blurton Farrier Tools.  The result was announced following an intense three days of competition in Rotterdam in which they competed in the Farrier event as the UK team. The boys won the overall event Gold but in addition, as every competitor is also marked individually not only did the Farrier team win gold but Ricky was awarded an additional gold medal for achieving the highest score in the Farrier competition and Ben was awarded the silver medal for achieving the second highest score.   EuroSkills is a new, pan-European, skills competition which was this year held from 18th-20th September in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Watched by around 40,000 spectators, the 400 competitors from 29 countries competed in 25 different competitions covering 49 different vocational skills. Speaking from Rotterdam, Ben said on behalf of the boys: “Words really can’t describe how pleased we are with the results. The competition was tough and being up against the best Farriers in Europe adds a tremendous amount of pressure, but we’ve been training hard for this and managed to concentrate on the job at hand and doing the best we could. Competing at EuroSkills has been such a great experience and we’re just really happy we’ve managed to show the whole of Europe how talented the UK really is.” Simon Bartley, Chief Executive, UK Skills said: “EuroSkills is creating a new platform enabling us to promote the incredible skills there are across Europe and to encourage skills development and vocational education. What Ben, Ricky and Team UK have done is proved that those skilled people live and work in our own country and should be celebrated for their ability.” Celebrity chef and Team UK supporter, Brian Turner, said: “It is easy to forget about, or think less of, vocational education but without these skilled people so much of the things we enjoy or take for granted every day – driving to work in your car, enjoying a clean office, eating in a great restaurant for example - wouldn’t be possible. Skills will always matter to UK businesses and the economy, so it is incredibly important that we encourage other people to choose this route and praise those that work hard to achieve their very best in their chosen fields. I send Ben and Ricky my heartfelt congratulations on their success.”   Skills Minister David Lammy said: “Each of the young people in the team have worked hard to earn to the right to represent their country - and it was inspiring to see them competing against the brightest and best from countries all across Europe. The results reflect the unprecedented investment we have made in skills training in the UK, and I hope the success of Team UK will inspire others to pursue excellence in their vocational skill.”     Ben Casserly (21) from Uckfield and Ricky Hilton (22) from Welshpool, Powys have won gold and silver at EuroSkills 2008, the biggest European skills competition for young people. Ricky is apprentice to the 2005 World Champion Jim Blurton whilst Ben is apprentice to the England International Andrew Casserly. Both of these exceptional talents are sponsored by Jim Blurton Farrier Tools.  The result was announced following an intense three days of competition in Rotterdam in which they competed in the Farrier event as the UK team. The boys won the overall event Gold but in addition, as every competitor is also marked individually not only did the Farrier team win gold but Ricky was awarded an additional gold medal for achieving the highest score in the Farrier competition and Ben was awarded the silver medal for achieving the second highest score. The boys were part of Team UK - a team of 16 youngpeople representing the UK at EuroSkills and who achieved a fantastic eight gold medals and one silver medal in total. http://62.149.36.221/~jimblurt/en/news/the-golden-boys--2009-01-07.php Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 UTC