The annual Guild of Taxidermists challenge taxidermy competition

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 & Mammal Challenge 2025

Challenge Photos

Select the photos 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 and Mammal Challenge for the 2025 Annual Conference.

Please bring along your flying magpie and/or white rat, 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 magpie or white rat in these reference photos.

Ground work will not be judged for the Avian or Mammal Challenge, but if you are also submitting your magpie and/or white rat 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 2024

Congratulations to the winners of the Avian Challenge 2024

Sarah Burhouse for Best Professional
Chris Redman for Best Amateur

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

Challenge Photo - Carrion Crow

Best Professional - Sarah Burhouse

Best Amateur - Chris Redman

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