A juggling "scoop" for Atlanta groundhoggers

 

The real top performer at the 8th Annual Groundhog Day Jugglers

Festival in Atlanta didn't win a trophy. As a matter of fact, he never even made it inside the gym. Everyone's most valuable player was David Barash, director of community relations for Ben and Jerry's ice cream, who parked his truck outside and dished up 25 gallons worth of free scoops during the weekend.

 

"Just tell your friends about it," Barash said. That will undoubtedly happen, because the five flavors he served were superb.

 

And so was the juggling inside the gym. The friendly confines of the somewhat run­down structure held more than 85 jugglers from 13 states. Some notable scenes were:

 

Susan Kirby and Robbie Weinstein passing clubs around Benji Hill as he did a five ring pirouette. Larry V riding an ultimate wheel - a first in GDJF history; Jim Creveling and Art Werger doing takeaways of a four club triple-single pattern; Rebel Bailey passing nine clubs with Mike Stillwell just one year after passing his first club ever; Renee Brachfield, Toni Shifalo and Rebecca Dotson passing clubs in a wornen-only formation; Mark Lippard stuffing a basketball from atop his giraffe unicycle; Rodger French doing five balls and then an accordian on a rolling globe; Dave McGehe flipping playing cards with deadly accuracy and lamenting the fact that his former best of 150 feet could have got­ten him in the Guinness book if he had only known they recognized the category.

 

The Saturday afternoon competition for the Punxsutawney Phil trophies attracted a dozen acts. After the props had settled, a three-person panel of non-jugglers selected Barry Abrahams for the "Top Dog" trophy, Robbie Weinstein for "First Prize" and Robert York for "Best In Show. "

 

Other entrants were Benji Hill, Prof. Henry Huggler, Manic Expressions, AI Eisenhower, Tommy Gabriel, Captain Slow, Joel Heidtman and the Young and Nameless Jugglers.

 

York performed his stylish "Puttin' On the Ritz" ring act, demonstrating that three rings can be anything but boring. Weinstein's three ball routine was dressed up with a five ball shower and five rings. It was the second year in a row he has won a trophy.

 

Abrahams did one of the more technical acts. He juggled four clubs while balancing a unicycle on his head and later juggled five briefly while riding it. The Nashville, Tenn., high school senior plays comedy clubs and works summers at the Music Village USA theme park.

 

April 12 - Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

The Drexel Hill Middle School Juggling Club will host Juggling Day in the gymnasium of their school from 10-4. For more information, contact Jackie Erickson.

 

April 12-13 Norman, Oklahoma

The third annual juggling festival will be held again in connection with the Medieval Fair on the University of Oklahoma campus at the newly refurbished Duck Pond. There will be open juggling all day and a gym available after 5 p.m. For more information write: Karen,  Norman, OK.

 

April 18-20 Columbia, Missouri

The 5th Annual Jugglefest, sponsored by the Y's Jugglers, will be held in Rothwell Gym on the University of Missouri campus. Expect workshops, a juggling parade through downtown, a drawing for props and free public show. Jugglers are encouraged to bring videos to show. Pre-register if you need housing. A $6 fee will be charged to cover costs of parties and picnic. Contact Doug Greene, Columbia, MO.

 

April 19-20 Rochester, New York

The RIT Spring Juggle-In will be held from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, send a self­addressed envelope to Greg Moss, Rochester, NY.

 

April 25-27 Fort Wayne, Illinois

The Sixth Annual Isaac Newton Memorial Juggling Festival will be hosted by Jugglers Anonymous of Fort Wayne. There is both indoor and outdoor juggling space at the site, Franke Park. An $8 registration fee covers all events - videos, public show, pany and workshops. Contact Jugglers Anonymous, Fort Wayne, IN.

 

April 25-27 Copenhagen, Denmark

The second Scandinavian Juggler's Conven­tion will be held from April 25-27 . Contact Per & Bina, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

May 10 - Durham, New Hampshire

The Third Almost Annual Live Free or Juggle Convention will be held in Ludholm Gym on the UNH campus. It will feature the IJA Eastern Regional Championships for U.S. Nationals qualifying at the summer convention. The convention runs 10 a.m. - 10 pm., with Mark Nizer serving as emcee for a public show in the evening. If you're interested in competing, judging or just attending, write Andrew Schwanz, Portsmouth, NH.

 

May 24-25 Akron, Ohio

The Rubber City Jugglers invite all to Memorial Weekend Madness to check out Akron before the 1987 convention. For more information, write: Kevin Delagrange, Akron, OH. Call  Tom Bennett or Denny Smith.

 

May 31-June 1 Lake Forest, Ilinois

The Illinois Juggling Institute is sponsoring the 1986 Juggler's Spring Fling. Contact Mike Vondruska, Bensenville, IL.

 

August 1-3 - Garden City, Long Island, New York

The International Unicycling Federation will sponsor UNICON II at Nassau Community College. Contact the IUF at Westbury, NY.

 

9th European Juggling Festival

The festival will be held in the ancient walled Spanish city of Caste liar de la Frontera, near Gibralter. For more information, write Hermann Klink,  Camino de la Fuente vieja, Provincia Cadiz, Spain.