Paul forges his way to top prize

The competition took place over five days

A County Armagh man sent the sparks flying in Canada when he beat red-hot opposition to become the 2008 world champion blacksmith.

Paul Robinson beat a host of top competitors from around the world to lift the $10,000 winner's cheque and an impressive bronze trophy.

Paul, from Portadown but now based in Scotland, won what is regarded as the Olympics of Blacksmithing in front of an estimated 20,000 crowd at the famous Calgary Stampede in Alberta.

Although best known for its spectacular bronco-busting rodeo events, the Stampede has been hosting the World Blacksmith Championship for 29 years.

This year, 70 contestants competed in a variety of skills in nine classes over five gruelling days.

A shortlist of five was selected from the last ten blacksmiths with Paul hammering the opposition to lift the trophy.

The competition was something of a whitewash for blacksmiths from east of the Atlantic with second place going to Scotland's David Varini, Paul's business partner, while Welshman Grant Moon was third.

The United States had five representatives in the last ten but failed to do better than fifth place.