NUMBERS

Records fall like tenpins as new format replaces old

 

The excitement of the Numbers Challenge event probably meant this was the last year for the five clubs and seven objects competitions. If that be so, Albert Lucas gave them a royal burial, setting new records for both categories.

 

Lucas and two other competitors broke the existing seven objects record. While both Dick Franco (:24.79) and Dan Bennett (:24.11) topped Tony Duncan's 1983 mark of :20.89, Lucas crushed it with a run of 1 :36.53.

 

Other competitors and best times for the three attempts were fourth-place David Lee : 13.11; and fifth place Dan Holzman :04.85.

 

Of the seven entrants in the five club competition, only Lucas could top 40 seconds. However, he did it in fine style, setting a new IJA record of 21:05.67 to best  Peter Davison's 1982 record of 6:10.

 

Other competitors and best times were:

2. Scott Dineen :39.49.

3. Dan Menendez :36.97.

4. Dan Holzman :25.86.

5. John Webster :24.09.

6. Barry Friedman :17.80.

7. Ken Falk :17.75.

 

The Numbers Challenge was set up by championships director Greg Moss as a forum to establish true numbers records in juggling. As in a high-jumping competition, entrants may enter the ball, ring or club competition at any number level they choose, and have three attempts to qualify at that number. If successful, they then move on to a higher number.

 

A run of twice as many tosses as objects (under control and in an acceptable pattern) qualifies a competitor at any particular level. The event was slow-motion video­taped, and judges consulted the tape in cases where there the number of throws made was in question.

 

Dan Bennett won the ball category with 18 tosses of 8 balls, using a unique style of simultaneous right- and left-hand tosses crossed from hand to hand. He attempted nine, but his nine tosses were not sufficient to qualify at that level. Two other competitors, Lucas and Robert York, failed to qualify at the eight level. All three men have tossed and caught ten balls before, indicating that the records established in Las Vegas will not survive for long.

 

Lucas bounced back to win the rings competition with 24 throws, the best run of three qualifiers at the nine level. He had previously intimidated the rest of the field with 68 tosses of eight rings. Dick Franco and David Lee also qualified at nine with 19 throws. Franco and Lucas both moved on to ten, but neither could make the requisite 20 throws.

 

The ring competition was light-hearted, with Franco asking Lucas "How do you hold 'em?" as they warmed up for their try at ten.

 

Lucas was the only competitor to attempt seven clubs. His best run of 11 throws established a mark for future competitors to top, but was not sufficient to officially qualify at that level.

 

Volunteers Provide Spark of Variety for Convention Workshops

 

Thanks to many generous and patient instructors, both scheduled and impromptu workshops at the 1984 IJA convention were a hit. First a recap, then thoughts for the future.

 

Following the welcome party we bravely undertook the first workshop, torch juggling and fire eating, in the Showboat Hotel parking lot. Egbert Sayers wowed even our jaded crowd with his skill at handling and performing with volatile substances. We lit up the Las Vegas sky with torches, and Tom Dewart added pyrotechnics to the show by using sparklers for wicks.

 

Every morning from 9 to 10 about 50 dedicated devotees stretched and warmed up with Alan Tilove and Karen Phariss. Daily classes for beginning jugglers were conducted by Mike Vondruska and instructors from The Juggling Institute. Sixty new jugglers were added to the population in the course of the week.

 

The daily club passing workshop, led by Craig Barnes and Joe Buhler with assistance from Holly Greeley and Arsene, moved in four days from basic passing to intermediate and advanced interactive club work.

 

Larry Olson taught the fine art of balloon sculpture, Charles Brown was a hit in his cigar box manipulation class and Todd Strong and Andrew Allen presented the peak of the art of one and two devil sticks.

 

Kit Summers provided individual consultation services in a coaching practicum and later in a performance practicum co directed with Dave Finnigan. In the former, a panel of experienced practitioners coached students in specific moves. In the latter, a volunteer panel critiqued a portions of students' routines.

 

A variety of special manipulative skills were presented, including: the diabolo with Larry Kluger and Todd Strong; hats with Daniel Holzman, Craig Barnes and Robert York ; multiplex and numbers juggling with Dan Bennett and Matt Love; finger­plex with Craig Barnes; and palm rolling with up to nine objects with Dave Finnigan, who also taught how to learn five balls the easy way.