Blurton Barshoe Matchplay
Blurton Barshoe Matchplay is the most educational competition in the world. Jim is proud to team up with World Championship Blacksmiths
World Championship Blacksmiths
The WCB (World Championship Blacksmiths) was formed in the spring of 2006 as a membership based organization. It was born from an idea that company CEO, Craig Trnka had been kicking around for years. It began with a small core of people who brainstormed and gathered information then pulled the trigger with the WCB officially launching on June 19, 2006.
The WCB founders wanted to produce horseshoeing competitions at venues where there was horse owning public to show and educate that a well educated farrier is a powerful tool. He is the only equine professional who sees the horse on a six week rotation in a non crisis situation.
First Super Clinic
The first ever and original Super Clinic took place in a covered arena in Houston Texas in January of 2007. Over 200 farriers from across the country gathered to take part in this first ever of its kind event. The first competition of the first season took place in April of 2007. The venue was Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Racetrack and Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The idea of horseshoeing competitors being able to arrive at a destination with just their toolbox was a completely new concept. All of the equipment was there for them; the anvil, forge, vice and all the little pieces that competitors used to have to haul in the back of a pickup truck if they were going to go to any other horseshoeing competition. With the go round format the WCB instilled a much greater amount of education being taken away from each event. With go rounds competitors compete once, then can observe their peers and learn from them. There was a lot to learn and wrinkles to iron out but the WCB was on its way.
The 2007 season included stops in Durango, Colorado in June, the Western Montana Fair in Dillon Montana in August, Equine Affaire in West Springfield, MA in November, Athens Georgia in January of 2008 and the season ended at the Florida State Fair in Tampa Florida at the end of January of 2008. Mr. Bill Poor of Midland Texas was the first WCB National Champion.
Within the WCB the passion is strong, education through competition.