THE TOM LAWS PLATE COMPETITION - 20th MARCH 2008

After last year's close-up competition was cancelled due to lack of any competitors, it was good to see the Tom Laws Plate firmly back on track on Wednesday night at our new venue.  The night opened with room host Dave Taylor reprising his "Pocket Tricks Drive" winning performance of Simon Aronson's Shufflebored, versions of which have recently been seen in WCM lectures by both Lennart Green and Ali Bongo.  Then came the six competitors, who were ...

Brett Sirrell:  Performing items from his professional close-up repertoire, Brett restored a torn cigarette paper in a flash of fire, found a signed 5p trapped inside a signed card, and performed the first of many variations on the Card in Wallet theme to crop up during the night.  He finished with a Hollingworth-style Torn and Restored Card.

Damon Coulou:  Damon is one of our youngest members and showed a great deal of potential with a well routined card sequence involving four Kings, several selections, and some nice self deprecating patter lines.  With a little more experience at working a crowd, Damon has the makings of a very funny performer.

Paul Donnegan:  Paul gave a very confident performance that featured Michael Close's Imagination Tester with an origami bolt and frame, a slick Ring and Rope routine, and a very commercial presentation for Ambitious Card involving Tony, Mitch Stone's imaginary dog (you probably had to be there) who eventually ended up inside Paul's wallet.

John Anthony:  John has always been a skilful technician when it comes to sleight of hand, but he's now becoming an excellent performer too!  John flawlessly performed a highly visual coin flurry with a giant coin climax and a skilful Ambitious Card routine that ended (after the third Card to Wallet within four acts) with the deck turning into a transparent perspex block.

Graham Morris:  Graham presented an act that can best be described as Tommy Cooper-esque!  A very funny comedy of errors that featured a Bottle Production, an impaled pack of cards, and a Chop Cup routine ... none of which quite went to plan! 
       
Shaun Peach:  The final performer in our room, Shaun presented a strange observation test with two cards, divined a freely chosen colour, matched up the torn halves of four postcards, and staged a murder mystery with Tarot cards.  He should be commended on his fine choice of material, performing two effects from a rather excellent DVD available from Albion Magic!

After due deliberation from the judges, the winner was announced as John Anthony.  John won a year's loan of the trophy and a gift voucher generously supplied by Frank Jones of the Fireplace Centre.

Sean Carpenter

Our Lay Judge was a very nice bloke called Tony as I remember
Other Judges, Geoff Ray and Ross Quinn. Both of whose scores mirrored each other almost exactly.
Time keepers: George Willoughby and Phil Tate.
Runners: Shane McDermot and Scott Whitney
Room Hosts Dave Taylor and Chris Congreave
Football Card: Sue Oakley and Sue Donegan