Robbie Weinstein took his best shot in his last chance to compete as an IJA junior, and won the event with the polish that comes from six years of prac­tice. Weinstein finished second in the event in 1985, and at age 17 this was his last year of Juniors eligibility.

 

The Albuquerque, N.M., high school student opened with a ball routine that culminated with a five ball drop bounce switch to a force bounce. He did color changes in a five ring cascade, then flashed six rings. He did three club tricks, a four club shower and finished with a five club cascade.

 

Youth took second and third places. Oran Canfield, 12, from Berkeley, Calif., unicycled onto stage as a paper boy, jug­gling three rolled-up editions. The beat of a rap song signaled a switch in the routine that led him to some break dancing and three and four club work. Smiling and apparently at ease all the time, he juggled up to five balls, five rings and the diabolo.

 

The youngest competitor of all, 9-year­old Mark Bakalor, won the hearts of the audience and judges with his steady grin, knickers and spangled red bows on his shoes. Third place Bakalor executed a well-rehearsed, but technically simple routine with balls, rings and clubs to a Roaring '20s banjo tune. The youngster also sang an adaptation of the song "Kids" from "The Music Man" that poked fun at hot young technical jugglers .

 

Other competitors and highlights of their acts were:

 

· Jonathan Austin - Devil stick, up to five bags, five ring pulldown, up to five clubs.

· Greg Bennick - Heavy metal act with three clubs, five balls with neck catch and innovative devil stick work.

· Kendall Gammon - Three bowling balls with a head roll, five rings, seven ball flash with a neck catch, up to five clubs.

· Tony Palomino - A colorfully costumed unicycling clown working with up to five balls, three plungers and three clubs. *.