The World Champion Blacksmiths’ Competition, held each year at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, is the “Olympics of blacksmithing.” Contestants worldwide come each July to compete in a variety of exercises that show off their forging skills. 

As prestigious as this event is — even the newlyweds, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, came to watch the Stampede this year — not everyone has the chance to attend.

In order to involve those who wish to compete, Calgary and the American Farriers Journal have, for 12 years running, co-sponsored a mail-in exercise.

The winner of the 2011 Calgary Mail-In Forging Exercise is Stephen Lynn of Didbury, Alberta, Canada.

A Fun Way To Practice

“I didn’t know there was a mail-in contest for the Worlds and had been hoping to attend and compete this year, but was unable to,” says Lynn. “I figured it would be a fun way to practice and at least participate.”

Fabio Furquim Correa of Aracatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, finished second with Tom Petersen of Bozeman, Mont., finishing in third place.

“I decided to do the contest because it was a good challenge and a reason to force myself to forge more,” Petersen comments.

Furquim Correa is no stranger to the World Champion Blacksmiths’ Competition. He was there in 2000 and 2001, and has entered the mail-in contest almost every year since then.

“I go to the United States for clinics and contests, and right now I’m in the certification process with the…