[Yana]

The instructions that come with the Blackcurrant bushes I got from Blackmoor says that you must prune all shoots back to 1" above the ground. The bushes look really healthy and the branches have loads of buds so it seems a shame to cut all the branches back that low down. What would happen if I didn't prune back as stated?

[Trillium]

Don't you know that all instructions were made for breaking?   

Must admit that I wouldn't prune such healthy sounding branches as I'm sure they got a few good clips at the growers'.

This from GardenIE says it better than I can:
Blackcurrants carry most of their fruit on young shoots. The shoots produced in one year carry flowers and fruit the second year. Pruning aims to provide a good supply of young shoots by removing a proportion of the older shoots each year. Carry out pruning after fruiting, although usually it is done in winter, being made easier by the absence of leaves.

Each year, prune out one quarter to one third of the number of shoots in the bush. Choose the older, darker-barked shoots to go. Prune them out as low down as possible. Annual pruning keeps the bushes to a reasonable size.

[Yana]

There is no 'old wood' as far as I can see and the tops of the branches have already been pruned as I can see the cuts.
I'm going to break the rules and leave the bushes as they are and see what happens.
 

[compostqueen]

I'm always a bit careful with such matters too and would hate to cut too hard into the shrub then get hit by freezing weather, which we could expect any day, so I think erring on the side of caution might not be misplaced.  They don't crop heavily for the first years of their lives anyway. Well, mine didn't. Mine have been slow to get going but cropped like mad last year and I was able to make my first ever blackcurrant jam 

[Ema]

Your instructions were probably for 1 year olds I chopped mine right down in autumn so Inwont get any fruit this year. Your bushes sound bigger and more established than mine which were practically 1 up right so I'd leave them be and see how they go

[Ivor Backache]

Start pruning after about 3 years and then cut back the stems in the centre to open the plant. Prune the  older branches which will have a darker bark. fruit crops on young branches. After year 4 take out a third of the branches at the base to encourage new growth.

[Paul Plots]

Start pruning after about 3 years and then cut back the stems in the centre to open the plant. Prune the  older branches which will have a darker bark. fruit crops on young branches. After year 4 take out a third of the branches at the base to encourage new growth.

Sounds good to me Ivor!! 

[Yana]

They are two year old bushes so they are really good looking and healthy.
I'll leave them and see what happens and prune the year after this as they will be three years old then.