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Representing Taxidermists across the UK

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Annual Challenge

The competition is designed to be fun, educational, and rewarding for the competitors and for those watching as the anonymous mounts are judged. The idea behind this challenge is to put all the taxidermists on a level playing field by restricting it to the same pose of the same species and will be open to compete in the novice, amateur and professional classes. Give it a try and your work will be sure to benefit from the intense studying and observation required of each species, as you strive to reproduce the pose as accurately as possible -not an easy task! The entries are judged on anatomical accuracy, copying the pose in the challenge photo, species shape, correctness of fur or feather pattern and craftsmanship – in other words, all the elements seen in the live animal and contained in the reference photo. Groundwork is not judged unless specified

Avian Challenge 2024

Challenge Photo - Avian Challenge


Select the photo above to enlarge. You are welcome to save this on your phone/tablet or print it off for referencing when mounting.

We are happy to announce the Avian Challenge for the 2024 annual conference.

Please bring along your carrion crow, copying the pose in the images above.

The competition is designed to be fun, educational and rewarding for the competitors, and for those watching as the anonymous mounts are judged.

The entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, specimen shape, correctness of skin position and craftsmanship in other words, all the elements seen in a live carrion crow in this reference photo.

Ground work will not be judged for the Avian Challenge, but if you are also submitting your carrion crow for credit or competition judging, the groundwork will be taken into consideration as well.

There will be winners in Professional, Amateur and Novice categories.


Previous Challenges & Winners

Avian Challenge 2023

Congratulations to the winners of the Avian Challenge 2023

  • Steve Smith for Best Professional 
  • Andi Probert for Best Amateur
  • Andrew Currie for Best Novice

Many thanks to our Independent Judges Rick Way, Wes Kevenaar and Peter Spannenburg who led this year's challenge of a partridge


Challenge Photo


Best Professional - Steve Smith


Best Amateur - Andi Probert


Best Novice - Andrew Currie


Mammal Challenge 2023

Congratulations to the winners of the Mammal Challenge 2023

  • Colin Scott for Best Professional 
  • Chris Redman for Best Amateur

Many thanks to our Independent Judges Rick Way, Wes Kevenaar and Peter Spannenburg who led this year's challenge of a fox game head.

Challenge Photo


Best Professional - Colin Scott


Best Amateur - Chris Redman



Avian Challenge 2022 

Congratulations to the winners of the Avian Challenge 2022

  • Stephen Smith for Best Professional 
  • Mark Walton for Best Amateur
  • Andrew Currie for Best Novice

Many thanks to our Independent Judges Rick Way, Wes Kevenaar and Peter Spannenburg who led this year's challenge of a pheasant.

Challenge Photo


Best Professional - Stephen Smith


Best Amateur - Mark Walton


Best Novice - Andrew Currie



Mammal Challenge 2021 

Congratulations to the winners of the Stoat Mammal Challenge 2021

  •  Stephen Smith for Best Amateur

Many thanks to our Judges Colin Scott and George Jamieson who led this year's challenge of a stoat.


Challenge Photo


Best Amateur - Stephen Smith


Summer 2020 Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of the online Magpie Avian Challenge.

  • Sophie Kiela in Professional
  • Ole Sørensen in Amateur

We had 16 entries in total, 12 Amateur and 4 Professional.

Many thanks to:

  • our Judge Steve Massam for providing great feedback and critique to all entries.
  • Mark Anthony Buhagiar for sponsoring the prizes.
  • Wildlife Photographer Filip Blaauw from Norway for allowing us to use his photograph for the challenge, Instagram: @filipbl from Norway.

And of course, to all participants, I hope you enjoyed taking part and can learn from the feedback from Steve given to you via email.

Challenge Photo

Stepping Magpie

Professional winner - Sophie Kiela

Stepping Magpie - professional winner

Amateur winner - Ole Sørensen

Avian Challenge 2020

Congratulations to the winners of the Wood Pigeon Avian Challenge 2020

  • Sarah Keen for Best Amateur
  • Christopher Redman for Best Novice

Many thanks to our Judges Colin Scott and George Jamieson who led this year's challenge of a wood pigeon.

Challenge Photo

Wood Pigeon challenge photo

Best Amateur - Sarah Keen

Wood Pigeon - Sarah Keen

Best Novice - Christopher Redman

Wood Pigeon - Chris Redman

Mammal Challenge 2019

Congratulations to the winners of the Grey Squirrel Challenge 2019

Joint winners Becky Dick and Andi Probert

Many thanks to our Judge Mike Gadd who led this year's challenge of a grey Squirrel.

Challenge Photo

Grey Squirrel

Joint Winner - Becky Dick

Grey Squirrel - Becky Dick

Joint Winner - Andi Probert

Grey Squirrel - Andi Probert

Avian Challenge 2018

Congratulations to the winner of the Jay in flight challenge 201

Winner Mike Gadd

Challenge Photo

Flying Jay challenge image

Winner - Mike Gadd

Flying Jay - Mike Gadd

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