Barnsby craftsmanship rewarded at the annual SMS saddle-making competition
Image: Barnsby's managing director James Hitchen accepting on behalf of winning saddler Malcolm Collins.
The very best saddlers in the country converged on London in February for the annual Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) saddle-making competition. With Lee Pearson invited by the SMS to act as celebrity judge for this prestigious event, competition was fierce and all awards were hotly contested.
Class 3, the ‘Open Class’, is usually reserved for the trade and is a category in which a company can manufacture the saddle of their choice. Barnsby entered alongside other leading British saddlers Ideal, Jeffries and Keith Bryan and were rewarded with top honours for their entry – the new Lorenzo dressage saddle.
The esteemed judges are looking for out and out quality, with attention paid to every detail and finish, from the number of stitches used, to the way the leather has been shaved and perfected and the standard is always very high. Barnsby’s track record is exemplary and this 200 year old company has been awarded many, many wins over the history of the competition. Barnsby’s Managing Director, James Hitchen, commented “We believe it’s essential to enter such prestigious competitions as they’re a great way to test your quality. At Barnsby, we stipulate that the model entered is a standard production model, so the craftsperson cannot spend a whole week making a saddle for the competition. For us, winning with the Lorenzo is not only a pat on the back for the saddle but also a recognition that Barnsby's manufacturing quality systems remain among the best you will find anywhere in the world.”