Bristol Juggling Convention is the perfect way to end a busy summer season of festivals and conventions. After working, juggling and partying hard since April, chilling out in a field with lovely views and lots of friends is just what the doctor ordered.

Bristol: 17th - 25th September 2011

Bristol Juggling Convention is the perfect way to end a busy summer season of festivals and conventions. After working, juggling and partying hard since April, chilling out in a field with lovely views and lots of friends is just what the doctor ordered. You can even juggle if you want.

You might think Bristol, a.k.a. “the number one juggling convention”, is brave to risk the UK’s weather in September but more often than not this early autumnal month is fairer than its “summer” predecessors. While this year’s event missed out on the heat wave that hit the UK in late September, no one could complain at the (mostly) pleasant conditions over the 9 day convention.

Bristol is not known for its workshop programme (except, maybe, for not having one) but after events like the BJC, EJC, Play and Southern Lights many brains have been sufficiently melted and welcome the rest. Bristol focuses much more on playing than hosting advanced master classes and there was certainly lots of play time.

The large field was the playground when the sun was out with the big top providing ample juggling space when the drizzle descended.

But at Bristol you’re just as likely to be playing a game as you are to be playing with your juggling toys. Many classic and not so classic board games are available for your entertainment in their own games tent. My personal favourite involved racing wooden Elk across a “river” by flicking stepping stones into their path.

But games don’t need boards, oh no. Immense amounts of fun can be had simply by throwing bits of wood at other bits of wood. Add a simple scoring system, about 40 jugglers and some top quality prizes (including a wooden spoon) and you get The First Bristol International Open Throwing Bits of Wood at Other Bits of Wood Championship (or something like that).

This year’s inaugural event was a close run and exciting affair with Chris “Crystal Wizard” Brown squandering his chance at glory by missing several match points in the final. The Wizard’s unusual inaccuracy opened the door for Southampton’s Andy “Diabolo” Hersee to sneak in and pip the Wizard at the post.

The official results are as follows:

1st Place: Andrew “Diabolo” Hersee

2nd Place: Chris “Crystal Wizard” Brown

3rd Place: Matt Terry (I think)

Taking the coveted wooden spoon for failing to score a single point in one of her games was Daisy Ra-Ra.

Bristol might be short on workshops but it does conform to other convention… umm… conventions, with the main show on Friday night and juggling games on the second Saturday with Renegade later that evening.

Bristol’s show features lots of home grown talent picking from Bristol’s wealth of performers but also included Firetoys’ friend Matt Morris showing off his highly amusing juggling/balancing/clowning act.

Basically, Bristol is bloomin’ brilliant and you should all come to play, laugh and hang out next year if you weren’t there this time.

Watch this space for details of next year’s number one juggling convention: http://www.thenumber1.jugglingconvention.co.uk/

Thanks to Sandy McClure for the photographs. Not just a good photographer, Sandy’s a talented performer to boot – check out his website: http://www.sandymcclure.com

Bristol: 17th - 25th September 2011

Bristol Juggling Convention is the perfect way to end a busy summer season of festivals and conventions. After working, juggling and partying hard since April, chilling out in a field with lovely views and lots of friends is just what the doctor ordered. You can even juggle if you want.

You might think Bristol, a.k.a. “the number one juggling convention”, is brave to risk the UK’s weather in September but more often than not this early autumnal month is fairer than its “summer” predecessors. While this year’s event missed out on the heat wave that hit the UK in late September, no one could complain at the (mostly) pleasant conditions over the 9 day convention.

Bristol is not known for its workshop programme (except, maybe, for not having one) but after events like the BJC, EJC, Play and Southern Lights many brains have been sufficiently melted and welcome the rest. Bristol focuses much more on playing than hosting advanced master classes and there was certainly lots of play time.

The large field was the playground when the sun was out with the big top providing ample juggling space when the drizzle descended.

But at Bristol you’re just as likely to be playing a game as you are to be playing with your juggling toys. Many classic and not so classic board games are available for your entertainment in their own games tent. My personal favourite involved racing wooden Elk across a “river” by flicking stepping stones into their path.

But games don’t need boards, oh no. Immense amounts of fun can be had simply by throwing bits of wood at other bits of wood. Add a simple scoring system, about 40 jugglers and some top quality prizes (including a wooden spoon) and you get The First Bristol International Open Throwing Bits of Wood at Other Bits of Wood Championship (or something like that).

This year’s inaugural event was a close run and exciting affair with Chris “Crystal Wizard” Brown squandering his chance at glory by missing several match points in the final. The Wizard’s unusual inaccuracy opened the door for Southampton’s Andy “Diabolo” Hersee to sneak in and pip the Wizard at the post.

The official results are as follows:

1st Place: Andrew “Diabolo” Hersee

2nd Place: Chris “Crystal Wizard” Brown

3rd Place: Matt Terry (I think)

Taking the coveted wooden spoon for failing to score a single point in one of her games was Daisy Ra-Ra.

Bristol might be short on workshops but it does conform to other convention… umm… conventions, with the main show on Friday night and juggling games on the second Saturday with Renegade later that evening.

Bristol’s show features lots of home grown talent picking from Bristol’s wealth of performers but also included Firetoys’ friend Matt Morris showing off his highly amusing juggling/balancing/clowning act.

Basically, Bristol is bloomin’ brilliant and you should all come to play, laugh and hang out next year if you weren’t there this time.

Watch this space for details of next year’s number one juggling convention: http://www.thenumber1.jugglingconvention.co.uk/

Thanks to Sandy McClure for the photographs. Not just a good photographer, Sandy’s a talented performer to boot – check out his website: http://www.sandymcclure.com