Awards

Close-up First Place Zina Bennett Trophy: John Van Der Put
Close-up Second Place: Rob James
Close-up Third Place: Will Gray
Close-up Rovi Card Magic Trophy: Rob James
The British Ring Shield First Place: Jonahthan Shotton
The British Ring Shield Second Place: Rev-Illusion
The British Ring Shield Third Place: Joe Ray
Manipulation Trophy: Joe Ray
Originality Trophy: Jonathan Shotton
Dealers Trophy: Practical Magic
Winner of Ali Bongo’s Micro Marathon: Mr Avista

The Late Gala was introduced by Denny Haney who performed classic magic such as the Egg Bag, Diminishing Cards with a card fan and manipulation sequence and his version of Ken Brooke’s Multiplying Bottles.

Richard McDougall performed a very skilled cigarette mime where first he makes an invisible cigarette and it appears, and then he tries to light it but the lighter disappears and then the cigarette, and then when it comes back it multiplies and keeps disappearing until it is replaced by a pipe. Richard then closed with a funny dialogue with a stuffed goose, again you have to see it to appreciate how good this is.

Guy Holloway seemed to be the token novelty act, but this time instead of a juggler a Xylophone player who went through several renditions of well known pieces hitting the xylophone at an incredible speed, he finished with Roll out your Barrel. Quite why this was on such a short show in a magic convention I’m not too sure but he was good!

Finally Mark Raffles closed the show with his comedy Linking Ring routine where they end up linked to his coat, the chair and tangled around his legs, so much so he ends up walking off with the chair and the rings attached to his body. An hilarious end to the show.