In a demonstration that hard work, experience, help and modern technology bring their own rewards, Ken Falk, 14, of Cupertino, California, won the Juniors Championship handily.

 

Falk finished sixth in last year's Juniors and worked two hours daily to prepare for this event.

 

With coaching from his San Jose Juggling Society mentor, Barry Bakalor, and regular videotape reviews of his act, he was able to present a polished and nearly flawless routine.

 

He was dressed smartly, wore stage makeup, kept smiling and demonstrated that he had mastered some difficult maneuvers.

The highlight of his performance was five club multiplex juggling in which two clubs are tosses simultaneously from a hand, split in the air and are caught one in one hand and one in the other as two clubs are tossed from the other hand.

 

He began with five balls, then moved to a five ring cascade with a pull down over his head. Four clubs preceded five, and included back crosses and a shower.

 

Finishing second was Robbie Weinstein,16, of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Weinstein scored high performance points as well, appearing confident and friendly on stage. He juggled three, four and five balls, four and five rings and three and four clubs.

The youngest Juniors Championship competitor, Bogar Zuniga, 11, finished third with a routine drawn from his family's circus presentation. Dressed in a white sequined body suit, Zuniga worked with balls, up to seven rings and five clubs.

 

Other competitors and highlights of their acts were:

 

. -David Cain (15, Middletown, Ohio) ­ Three and four clubs, five balls. Cigar boxes, one-sticked devil stick, spinning one ball on another, two balls and two rings simultaneously. Finished by manipulating numchucks.

 

-Jeff Daymont (17, Hinsdale, IlIinois) - Worked with three and four boxes, did ball spinning and juggled five and flashed seven balls.

 

- Kendall Gammon (16, Rose Hill, Kansas, Jayhawk Jugglers) - Head rolls and a behind-the-back toss with a bowling ball. Three clubs lying on his back, four and five clubs. Three balls, five balls and seven ball flash with a neck catch.           ..

-Jarrad Mayfield (17, St. Louis, Missouri) - Seven ring flash, six rings, five rings. Four, five and seven ball flash. Three, four and five clubs.

 

-Jim Menke (15, Orange, California) ­ Three, four and five balls, hat manipulation and color changes with three rings.