XIX EUROPEAN BIENNIAL WROUGHT IRON EXHIBITION EXHIBITION OF THE ART OF FORGED IRON

     WORLD FORGING CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

Michelle J Parker, an Artist Blacksmith from Droitwich Spa Worcestershire, has won the title of  Women's World Blacksmithing Champion at the European Biennial of the Blacksmiths at Stia in Italy. The World Forging Championship took place from the 1st to the 5th september 2011  and Michelle was nominated and sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmith's to attend this important competition.

Michelle has been a Blacksmith for 25 years, running her own business as well as at the time lecturing at Moreton Morrel College in Warwickshire where she spent 12 years as forge manager.

The competition took place in the village of Stia in Tuscany which is overtaken during the Championship week by Blacksmiths from all over the world. The forges are set up in the main street and forging takes place under the blazing sun.

The theme for the competition was "Evolution" and the piece of work had to be made within three hours.  Michelle's work depicted a dinosaur reading a book.

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