The balls, the clubs and the unicycles have all been packed back into their carrying boxes. And after four full on days of juggling, conjuring and general madcappedness the British Juggling Convention has finally come to an end for this year.

The BJC 2004 in pictures

The fun started on Wednesday afternoon as juggling fanatics from around the world starting arriving in their droves. The mini festival was held at Broomfield Hall in Morley and by Wednesday night the hall's surrounding fields looked more like Glastonbury festival than a college dedicated to agriculture.

After pitching tents, hooking up caravans and maneuvering campervans into place the first stop for most was the beer tent, closely followed by a stomp through the suddenly ubiquitous mud to the 24-hour juggling zone - a huge marquee covered by a beautiful star filled roof.

Over the weekend, jugglers met here to share skills, watch the experts, join in workshops and go head to head with one another. If you thought juggling was a gentle and creative hobby a few minutes watching 'Volleyclub' would soon change your mind. Think Volleyball with juggling clubs flying through the air and you're there.

And whilst we're talking of the competitive side of things. The action made its way into Derby City on Saturday afternoon where shoppers were amazed to have their usual weekend routine disrupted by the 'Juggling Olympics'.

A far cry from 21st century Athens, it was more like a scene from the Roman Empire (all be it a slightly surreal one) as the more hard-core and foolhardy went into combat to win at Gladiatorial unicycling, devil sticks and three club juggling heats.

Quite simply the aim is to be the last one still performing your trick without being 'killed' by an opponent. The only rule being that there are no rules, anything's fair game. Whack sticks from other jugglers' hands, bash clubs midair and fly into fellow unicyclists seeing how far you can knock them from their vehicle.

Other games included uni-hockey, unicycle assault course and the first ever juggling Derby Dash.

The fun ended at 5pm with a mass toss up outside the Assembly Rooms. Hundreds of clubs, balls, diabolos and hats (amongst other items) were thrown sky high then everyone ducked for cover!

The break gave everyone chance to get something to eat before the public show. The staff at Pizza Express may have a coat rack but they were a bit bemused by the requests on where diners could park their Unicycles and snakeboards.

Whilst previous activities were fantastic fun the public show was a slick and consummately professional performance. International stars including Team Rootberry and The LaSalle Brothers stunned the audience (most of who could be classed in the 'bloody good' category). Whilst Luke Burrage's use of technology (and brotherly love) showed originality and technical cleverness. Maverick master of manipulation Jay Gilligan demonstrated the fine line between genius and insanity. We're sure he's a lovely guy but we reckon his social life (and social skills) may have suffered at the hands of his art.

Later back at Broomfield the No Fit State marquee was taken over by Renegade - an open mic session for anyone who had anything entertaining to show or share. Random, anarchic, chaotic and sometimes brilliant is the best way to describe what happened here. Luke and Nathan Burrage the fabulous - if not slightly unhinged - comperes did well to keep it all together and remove the slightly less entertaining acts from the floor.

The show went on until the wee hours, one of the highlights being a hastily but well executed Reduced Public Show micky take. Basically a bunch of cleverclogs imitating the evening's more polished performance in a intentionally amature and haphazard way. Beautiful ladies dressed as ringleaders kept the audience happy with tequila, brandy coffees and more beer.

By the time the sun came up the entertainment had taken something of a bizarre and indescribable turn in direction. However, those who decided to last the night out were treated to one young poet's masterpiece - a ditty entitled 'The Invisible Poo'.

The BJC 2004 in pictures

So, that's it for another year. This year's master and mistress of ceremonies Andy Vass and Gaynor Hughes along with all of Derby's Juggling Club - Tomfoolery - were looking totally boz-eyed and bamboozled by Sunday morning. As the organisers of this year's convention it could be said that they pulled off the most amazing juggling trick of the weekend. They hand the mantle over to another city next year and it's fair to say that the city playing host next year will definitely need balls to equal this year's BJC.

Annabel Caulton

Where you there? What were the best bits for you?

Greatings All, I am doing some research on the Human Body's Reflex Responses, and as part of that I would like to know if anyone in the Juggling WWWorld has ever met a Blind Juggler, or anyone who uses a blindfold while juggling. Does anyone know of anyone in the history or lore that was either blind-from-birth, blinded-after-birth, or used a blindfold during their act? I would prefer to talk to someone still living, but if there is a history web page out there, that would be helpful too. If you don't know of anyone off the top of your head, so to speak, please pass this request on to someone that may. Thanks. GB G.Bender omg, wat can we say, but only that this has got to be the best convention yet!it was the thrill of my whole entire life. we wer the jugglers with pants on our heads and we wer juggling chairs and cars!! see you next year! remember to bring ya pants!! ya ha ya ha we are the knicker heads!! - themetune! wer gonna be big!!! ;-) big up u jugglers! we love ya!!!!! josie and caz i agree with liam, juggling is ace!!! mike mcguinn, derby i just want to tell people who may snigger at juggling not to. i used to wonder what people saw in it, but went to a juggling convention myself and found it to be the most enjoyable thing i have ever done. i started with rolled up socks but now i've progressed to juggling large objects like chickens. go on, give it a go yourself!!!!!! liam marlow, derby This was my first convention i've ever been to. I would like to thank everyone who made it very enjoyable, and will see you all at the next! Kathryn - St Ives, Cornwall The convention was beautifull and I guess the best was the real renegade... It was really good and the vibe around it was the best. Loved the show, was amazing just a shame no picture taking was allowed. Thank you all!!! Faye - London eat my breasticles! (we saw willy in return!) the floozee! wicked fest - see you all next year! I won the trials comp!!!(im the rider with the blue headband) Jacob - swindon the "Best Bananas - Quality" thing has been going on since the late 90's and I think it's a reference to a phrase that a york based juggler overheard in a market. It was amusing for the first year or so. LP A Fantastic Show well done to Derby & Notts Juggling clubs for getting it all together looking forward to the next caberet Lee G The fountain in Derby market place is great fun. I enjoyed juggling around it and passing with people who were standing on top. Peter - Brighton CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Atomic Kitten Why do people shout 'Best Bananas - Quality' it's happened for years and I don't know why? Ian W Jay Gilligan is a lunatic. I thought it was a bit sad that people were heckling him at Renegade later on. Jesus, he's like the only one who can do that kind of thing so give the guy a break and let him do it. Glad some girlies got up and did their thing (not including the flooze who got her tits out - anyone can juggle with two sweetie). Well done guys, a fantastic festival atmosphere. Abbi Good show, good show. Loved it. Well done Robin - Brighton I've seen the Derby juggling Cabaret before and this is 10 times bigger and, promises to be a top class event. Unmissable!!! Lee Sparkle, Stretton Add your comments Your name and area: Add your comments here:

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