Northamptonshire Magicians' Club

Close-Up Competition (1999)

After our President, David Penn, had handed over to our compère for the night, Bryan Hooton, the first act was introduced.

John Shaw with "John's Card Cavalcade", which consisted of a number of card tricks, mainly performed using a minimal number of playing cards, and the trick that has come to be known as the "Chop Cup".

John Percival, who performed a couple of pretty effects, both of which had a surprise ending.

Hon. Secretary and President Elect, Mark Farrar, who performed a couple of mind-reading type effects - one with playing cards and one using a travel alarm clock - and a card routine where the theme is "why you shouldn't play cards with a magician".

Phil Banks, who performed a classic card trick called "Card Warp", to some very (intentionally) confusing and well presented patter, a number of very pretty effects using a borrowed finger ring, and, finally, an "illusion" where two £5 notes are clearly cut in two, by a spectator, and then restored.

Mick Hanzlik, a past President of the Club, who performed a novel and themed act set in the "Greasy Spoon" restaurant. Effects utilised a multitude of props, including a salt shaker, a borrowed £5 note, playing cards that had been cut in two, a Houdini commemorative coin, "invisible" playing cards, a and hotel room key.

Roscoe Birchmore, who performed a series of card tricks.

Ken Hawes, another past President of the Club, who performed a number of classic tricks using plastic hands, sponge balls, a sort of cricket bat shaped miniature blackboard, a borrowed £10 note, nuts and bolts, coins (of all sizes) and perfume.

Whilst the judges - Chris Dugdale, who was the guest magic judge, Club member Steve Dimmer, who was the theatrical judge, and a lady called Lesley (who's surname I didn't catch), as the lay judge - left for their discussions, fellow Club member Martin Webster kindly performed some more close-up magic (just in case we hadn't all seen enough by then!). His act included the classic "Cut & Restored Rope", a card trick, and finally the impossible production of a borrowed ring, which had previously vanished, and a playing card, which had previously been chosen and then vanished, inside a locked box.

Bang on cue, the judges returned with the results of their deliberations. Both Phil Banks and Mick Hanzlik were commended for their ring routine and novel and entertaining setting, respectively, but the winner of the Walter Ashton Close-Up Magic Trophy was Ken Hawes (who has been a member of the Northamptonshire Magicians' Club for exactly 35 years and two weeks). Congratulations (again, since this is by far from the first time that Ken has won this competition)!