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Danny:
"With no more Wessex, this is undoubtedly
the best convention on the UK calendar. There were some
concerns that it had died a death after it didn't happen
last year. Good to be back."
Alan S:
Not a review as such, as I didn't take notes. I just
wanted to say thanks to the organisers for another wonderfully
friendly convention.
The weather was amazing (although only officially 'very
warm' according to the TV). It was *hot*. Too hot to
juggle, but there was a wonderfully shady patch under
the trees from which to watch the
proceedings.
Saturday was taken up with an escalating arms race,
when the guys (and gals) from Hertford decided to stage
a water fight with water pistols purchased from one
of he stall set out on the green. A quick trip to tescos
later, and Pete returned fully armed to the teeth with
a water cannon which effectively ended the argument
over who had the greatest range and capacity.
I didn't attend any of the workshops on the Saturday
- many of which were aimed at 'beginner' level. Pan's
workshop on continuous back crosses seemed well attended,
and I later had a quick 3-count feed session with him
and another guy whose name I didn't get. The only juggling
I did on the Saturday!
The show was up to the usual Crawley standard, but seemed
a bit short this year. Errol did his diabolo routine
(for the last time apparently), Libra (Simon and Chloe
from Cambridge) did an acrobalance routine, the comperes
(Owen and Malter (sp?)) did a turn themselves - excellent
juggling skills there, Danny and his yellow balloons
made us all laugh, and Bernie Bennet did *that* routine
again. I've probably missed someone out, but the wossname
isn't what
it was. Memory, that's it!
I missed the fireshow, preferring to have a friendly
natter in the bar with Charlie, Alex, Simon, Chloe,
John, Jason, Ian and Claire. We then all moved out to
the renegade tent, having missed the first few 'acts'.
I really can't remember much about the renegade, except
that Claire and Error got involved in a competition
to see who could get their mouth lowest, whilst only
having thier feet on the floor.
Really. You had to be there.
And so Sunday came. The weather was much cooler, and
a lot more juggling seemed to be taking place. There
was an acro-balance workshop, several more beginner's
level workshops, and an 'advanced club passing' workshop
held by the previous night's comperes. This was an 'interesting'
workshop, utilising passing techniques and positions
I've not considered before. I sat and watched the whole
thing, as it involved leaping about over your partner's
back, crawling around between their legs etc. With my
shape, that sort of activity isn't really on, but I
learned a lot nevertheless.
After lunch the games started. All the usual fun, hosted
with panache by Richard (now there's an oxymoron! :-))
The final game involved Richard standing with a bucket
of water on his head, surrounded by diabolists, each
of whom had a shot at launching their diabolo into the
bucket. *Everybody* missed, but the inevitable
happened, the bucket was tipped, and Richard was soaked
anyway :-)
The convention finished with the by now traditional
'informal' show in the amphitheatre, hosted by Richard
(and Christian who had decided to turn up late to the
convention - some excuse about being on holiday I think..)
The show was preceeeded by a balloon-dog show.
Lots of imagination shown by the contestants, and very
funny. Sadly (I thought), the most complicated model
won - a replica of Disney's Pluto. A (very) young girl
did some hula hoop, Owen and Malter did a nice bounce
routine, Matta did a clubswing / poleswing routine,
various CircusWurx people (Dave?) did odd things with
fire and balls, and there was a very nice contact juggling
routine from a young lady who's name I didn't catch.
And so it was over, and we all wended our ways home.
Thanks once again to Crawley Community Arts and Circuswurx
for hosting the convention. I'm already looking forward
to next year...
Danny:
Less rain, please. And if the showers could be opened
earlier on Saturday morning, that would be a bonus.
Otherwise, how could you possibly improve upon the Crawley
Convention?
Andrew:
I made it to the Crawley Circus festival yesterday.
It was a bit of
astruggle to find my way there from the railway station;
how about a map next time folks? The facilities were
superb. Lawns, shade trees, a tent, an outdoor amphitheatre,
camping, parking, a full bar (serving hand pumped Greene
King Abbott, no less) a snack bar and a large modern
theatre all within a few yards of each other.
Danny:
It doesn't make much difference to me where it is anyway,
since I'll never go to an EJC as long as it clashes
with Crawley.
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