Horseshoe Benders Top-20 List

[Ivan Beritashvili]

WORLD'S TOP-20 HORSESHOE BENDERS:

1) Jason Bergmann - Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #3 (Mar 2013) - video
1) Ivan Yastrebov - Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #3 (Jun 2020) - video
3) Zsolt Hornyak - Kerckhaert DF 10x22 #1 (Nov 2019) - video
4) David Wigren - Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #1 (March 2013) - video
5) Mike Rinderle - Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #3 (Oct 2012) - video
6 ) Kirill Vankovich - Kerckhaert DF 10x22 #4 (Dec 2020) - video
7) Andy Thomas - St. Croix EZ #2 (Sept 2012) - video
7) David Mitti - St. Croix EZ #2 (Dec 2012) - video
9) Roman Tozhiev - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #0 (Aug 2017) - video
9) Ivan Beritashvili  - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #0 (July 2020) - video
11) Alexandr Belov - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #1 (May 2021) - video
12) Henrik Nyström - Kerckhaert SSP 8x22 #0 (No leg pad) (Nov 2011) - video
13) Eric Milfeld - St. croix Plain Regular #3 (No leg pad) (Nov 2009) - video
14) Tommy Jennings Jr - St. croix Plain Regular #3 (March 2013) - video
14) Cody Guy - St. croix Plain Regular #3 (Jan 2013) - video
16) Carl-August Mertz  - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #2 (Dec 2016) - video
16) Alexandr Hvesyuk (NEW!!) - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #2 (Jul 2021) - video
18) Nick Rosendaul - Diamond Special #5 (Nov 2010) - video
18) Carl Ansara - Diamond Special #5 (May 2011)
20) Juha Lehtimaki - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #3 (Feb 2017) - video
20) Andrey Vinogradov - Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #3 (Jul 2020) - video

Rules for horseshoe bending:
1. The horseshoe bend must be completed within 3 minutes
2. The horseshoe must be bent past 180 degrees. To demonstrate this, the horseshoe must be placed on a flat surface and show that at least one of the two legs is free from the surface and pointing upwards. If needed you are allowed to push down on one end of the horseshoe to demonstrate that the horseshoe is past 180. However no tilting of the horseshoe is allowed during this demonstration, therefore the entire horseshoe must be visible during this part of the demonstration.
3. The horseshoe is not allowed to be bent under your feet. During the bend both feet must remain on the floor and you are not allowed to lean on any stationary object. Other than that you are free to use whatever technique suits you best.
4. Only single wraps allowed. Wraps can be no thicker than 1.25" in diameter when rolled up in the same direction as they will be wrapped on the horseshoe. This must be demonstrated by passing the wraps through a 1.25" hole. The hole must be of rigid material so not to expand while the wraps are passing through.
5. Leg padding is allowed as long as it is of "soft material", and must be demonstrated by folding the padding on camera. The leg padding must be shown and unwrapped to insure that there is nothing hidden in them. It will then be up to the judges to say what constitutes as "soft material". The bender can choose to bend without the use of leg padding, which will give him a higher placing on the list as per rule #6. It is not required by the bender to show in detail that he is not using any leg padding. However the judges will have the right to fail any bend that looks "suspicious".
6. Horseshoe, hand wraps and leg pad must be in the frame of the camera throughout the entire bend. The video must be in clear focus with good light, to make sure no place for any doubts are left.
7. No sleeves or wrapping of the elbows, wrist or hands is allowed. 
8. Before the bend during the documentation of the horseshoe all numbers, markings and brands that might be on the shoe must be shown as clearly as possible. The centre of the shoe must be shown at all angles to prove that no modifications on the shoe have been made. This must be done before and after the bend. Used horseshoes are not allowed.
9. All the measurements must be done with a digital caliper - width and thickness of the horseshoe and hole diameter for wraps measurement. In exeptional cases a mechanical caliper can be used, but the quality of the video must be no less than 1080p60 HD with a proper focus.
10. These horseshoes are the ones that will get you on the list. Other horseshoes will eventually be added to this list as soon as their strength has been determined to appropriately fill any of the possible gaps in this list. The bender who bends the hardest horseshoe will always beat the bender who bent a weaker one. Regarding the same horseshoes a non leg padded bend will always beat a bend where leg padding was used.
11. Video submissions must be made either in this topic or through a PM to me with a link to the video.

Horseshoes acceptable for certification submissions (from easy to hard):

1. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #3
2. Diamond Special #5
3. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #2
4. St. croix #5 XTRA / Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #5
5. St. croix Plain Regular #3
6. Kerckhaert SSP 8x18 #000 
7. Kerckhaert SSP 8x22 #0 (UPDATE!!)
8. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #1 (UPDATE!!)
9. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #0
10. St. Croix EZ #2
11. Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #4
12. Kerckhaert DF 10x22 #4 (NEW!!)
13. St. Croix EZ #4
14. Anvil Brand 1x3/8 Draft Keg #6
15. Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #3
16. Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #5 (NEW!!)
17. St. Croix EZ PLUS #3
18. Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #2
19. Kerckhaert SSP 10x22 #1
20. Kerckhaert DF 10x22 #1
21. Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #4
22. Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #3
23. Kerckhaert DF 10x25 #2 (NEW!! - for Ivan Yastrebov)

Edited July 18 by Ivan Beritashvili

[Ivan Beritashvili]

Since Bender's Battlefield fell down, the horseshoe bending under strict certification and competition rules was about to be forgotten.
With help of David Wigren and Mike Rinderle I am resurrecting this awesome feat of strength.

ATTENTION!!! This list from Bender's Battlefield isn't latest!!
I am asking everybody from this Top-20 list, who did better bends later in timeline than in post above, please write here, I will update it.
Also people from "Texas horseshoe twisters" will be included and put on places respectively matched to the shoes they have bent, according to progression list.

[Buccos1]

NIce!!! Glad to see this back up. Might give me a kick to light up the shoes again!

[David Mitti]

Thanks for keeping this list alive Ivan!!

Like Tommy said the list looks accurate from what I remember..

[wulfgeat]

This is awsome!!! All I need is some digital calipers--and to get faster at bending the St. Croix Lite rim #1.

[Tim71]

Jason Bergman's shoe that he bent is not listed on the acceptable shoes list. Is there a typo or something here and the #21 shoe is supposed to be what Berman bent?

[Buccos1]

I remember shoes were being added to the list just for him because he was destroying everything in his path.

[nickr104]

Yup Jason Bent some stupid huge shoes!!

[Ivan Beritashvili]

YOUTUBE LINKS ADDED!! who has seen other bends from the list, please be kind to bring it here.

Glad you liked this guys!! When I deal with crush technique, I'll join you to party hard

and will bring this to my Russian colleagues to try this also.

Tim, no typo, now I've added Jason's shoes in cert list too.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Ivan Beritashvili

[Mike Sharkey]

Seems like this should be pinned.

[Ivan Beritashvili]

Mike, already! :-)

Tommy thank you sir! and thanks for pointing on mistake, I fixed it.

[codyguy]

I have a couple screen shots of the old list, ill have to get them off my old sd card

[Ivan Beritashvili]

LIST OF SHOES UPDATE: 4 MODELS ADDED

6. Kerckhaert SSP 8x20 #0**

8. Kerckhaert SX-7 18x7 side-clipped #000

10. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #3**

12. Kerckhaert DF 8x22 #2**

For the reason that SSPs models from shoe list are very hard to find here in Russia, couple of months ago I have sent a box of Kerckhaert shoes to Nick Rosendaul. Nick was very kind to bend them and to give an estimate of these models.

Now we also will be able to get into Top-20 list!

Edited November 9, 2014 by Ivan Beritashvili

[Ivan Beritashvili]

My big desire to eventually invade Top-20 list resulted in rush and carelessness. Evene the bend is done relatively easy, the shoe goes away from the frame while I am demonstrating the pads. But anyway - pleased with this. Feel confident now!

P.S. Watch my Milfeld crush!

Edited November 10, 2014 by Ivan Beritashvili

[nickr104]

Great bend Ivan!! If I were a judge I wouldn't fail the cert because it is clear it's the same shoe and not moved but I understand you want everything on the up and up.

[Ivan Beritashvili]

Tommy, Nick - huge thanks for kind comments!

I knew, that experienced guys will support my decision.

I'd like to add that I also did it cuz i teach guys not only bending but also making proper video-submissions. I published this video in IronGrip as an anti-example how it SHOULD NOT be done.

Anyway, true pain in my ass for a looong time is side-clipped SX-7 #000 (new added model, bent and estimated by Nick), significantly harder than that SSP. So I guess it will be cool, if I come in the list by killing that shoe.

[Ivan Beritashvili]

As life teaches me nothing from first time, my second cert attempt is also trashed by not showing the leg padding

Anyway this shoe was HUUGGGEE pain in my ass since December 2012. Multiple attempts, crunching ribs, bruised legs - no way getting it past 180.

Yesterday I killed it in 11 hits / 35 seconds. Very proud of this bend.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Ivan Beritashvili

[Ivan Beritashvili]

So right after SX-7 #000, I redo my cert attempt for Top-20 list, taking a tougher shoe:

Kerckhaert DF front-clipped 8x22 #3.

Mr Livesey, here is my submission. Please judge it with all strictness and objectivity.

[nickr104]

Looks like you are getting the shoe bend technique down Ivan. Awesome bend!!

[EJ Livesey]

a Huge congrats to Ivan for taking the #12 spot on the HS List.

[Ivan Beritashvili]

a Huge congrats to Ivan for taking the #12 spot on the HS List.

This is HUGE honor and joy for me!! EJ, much thanks for your time to judge my cert!

To come into Top-20 was my very desired goal!!

[Ivan Beritashvili]

As the steel bending sport develops and new people come in the list, the requirements for the certifications inevitably will rise.
Unfortunately 5 athletes are moved down to 20th spot and excluded from Top-20 list: Adam Moyers, Mike Krahling, Brian Blazer, Stew Rosendaul and Martin Geisser.

From November 18th 2014 the horseshoe model

St. croix Lite Rim #3 is NO longer acceptable for certifications.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Ivan Beritashvili

[EJ Livesey]

As the steel bending sport develops and new people come in the list, the requirements for the certifications inevitably will rise.Unfortunately 5 athletes are moved down to 20th spot and excluded from Top-20 list: Adam Moyers, Mike Krahling, Brian Blazer, Stew Rosendaul and Martin Geisser.

From November 18th 2014 the horseshoe model

St. croix Lite Rim #3 is NO longer acceptable for certifications.

This was a discussion Ivan and I had and we agreed it would be the best thing for the cert list. The SFC lite Rim 3 is a huge accomplishment but is no longer recognized. New shoes are always added since the sport must evolve.

[nickr104]

I will make Stew bend a bigger shoe. He has bigger stuff in him for sure.

[Ivan Beritashvili]

Awesome Nick!