Forums > Social Chat > didn't he do well (lots of balls)

quote:

---

Subject: 12 ball flash, no video, part 2.
From: Luke Burrage [View Profile]
Email: [members only]
Date: 11th Nov 2003.


Hello

Tonight I went to the Flying Teapots juggling club in Sheffield for the
first time in 3 weeks and took along a bag of all my currently used
juggling equipment. I'm really impressed with a new bag I have, a wheely
suitcase, that can contain 7 fat rings, 6 clubs, 5 silicones, 5 globalls,
1 big stage ball, 5 heavy excerballs, 12 105g barnesy bags, 15 50g barnesy
bags and a diabolo. The wheels are needed as it is almost too heavy to
carry so full.

Anyway, as someone else had borrowed my 105g bags and I had my 50g bags
with me, I decided to give numbers juggling a go, something I've not been
into much recently. First up I managed to get 17 catches of 9 balls which
is two catches of my 9 ball record, one I set about 2 years ago. Then
after struggling with 11 balls for a little bit I decided to give 12 balls
a try. I was feeling quite motivated after reading about Peter Bone's
recent success.

After about 20 minutes of trying I managed to get 11 catches followed by a
mad dive for ball number 12 that bounced off my hands rather than staying
in them. This was the best I had ever done with 12 balls so I stuck with
it a bit longer. Normally after trying 12 balls for a few attempts I'm too
tired to continue but for the past month and a bit I've been doing
physical training 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. This really made a big
difference to my strength (quite a bit needed for 12 balls), speed and
endurance.

At about 25 minutes I finally managed a 12 ball flash, with a fumbled last
catch, an arm roll and an elbow flick to get the ball back into my hand,
rather than on the floor. Fellow Sheffield juggler (and my current
landlord) Dave Proctor was the only witness that I know of as he had sat
drinking tea behind me the entire 25 minutes, making unhelpful remarks the
whole time. Maybe others saw too, there were about 50 people at the club
tonight.

So I'm pretty pleased with myself. 12 catches of 12 balls equals the
current world record, and also I'm back on track with my "12 balls after
12 years of juggling" type situation. And my "5th in the world" prediction
has also come true. If only my camcorder wasn't broken...

Thanks to Peter for the inspiration. And Luke Holman.

Have fun,

Luke Burrage

---