After a tremendous competition on Saturday the result was a First Place win for Jack Gleadow and Second Place to Joe Harper. Congratulations to them, and to the other competitors David Hoyes, Alistair Kenyon-Brodie and Alex Pawinski. You can view pictures from the competition over on Jon Marshall's Flickr Page.

As Paul Kitchen walked through the curtains at precisely 4.30 p.m. to announce the start of the 2005 Spooner Trophy Stage Competition there was an air of expectation in the large audience. Six-times winner in successive years, Daniel Hargreaves was now too old to enter and was helping back stage. People knew that there had to be a new name on the trophy this year. Who would it be? Only time, and the judges, would tell.

First on, always a difficult spot, was Joe Harper from Driffield. He soon established good contact with the audience, using one of Brian Wilson’s inventions, which we’ll call the Tambourine of Delight (see Brian if you need an explanation). In fact, this was one of many examples of collaboration and co-operation between H.Y.M. and H.M.C. Joe then did a colourful Blendo effect followed by a version of Backstage with the Magician. Here was some attractive magic, confidently performed, and his running gag with Lota Vase got some good laughs. He finished with his version of a Russian Roulette/Just Chance type of effect using an apple and a sharp knife. The competition was off to a flying start.

Dale Constable made an imposing entrance in his black tails and his magic was as sharp as his appearance. We saw some very clever handling using ropes, cards and CD discs. He finished very strongly with his invisible juggling routine when to gasps of amazement from the audience the balls suddenly and dramatically materialised.

The third competitor was Jack Gleadow, who, like Joe Harper, was making his first Spooner appearance – though you would never have guessed it from his confident and cheeky persona. My mind immediately went back six years to recall the first time that the then diminutive Danny Hargreaves competed. Jack is a natural performer with a genuine feel for comedy and the audience was clearly impressed by his clever opening routine using different magicians’ names and his rope routine using a cored apple.

Next on was Thomas Collinson who performed to music, a very polished act, using a ring and rope routine. Thomas was another grateful beneficiary of the HYM and HMC link. He made very good use of a production box which Brian Wilson had made for him and also received help and advice from Malcolm Bromwich in the presentation of his act.

This high level of performance was maintained when another Spooner debutant, Sam Tasker, took to the stage. He is another one with that feel for comedy which is hard to teach but easy to detect. Sam moved about the stage well and used his volunteers skilfully. His strong magic included Cups and Balls and Rising Card and he finished strongly with the amazing reappearance of a previously-vanished marked coin.

The penultimate performer was Grant Constable, the current close-up competition winner. Grant had a good stage set and looked the part of a magician, wearing a fez and coloured waistcoat. Once again, we saw good magic, humorously presented. His rope tie sequence impressed the audience as did his Linking Ring Routine. His production of a glass of water and his clever handling of jumbo cards produced audible gasps of amazement.

Joe Hunter, the final competitor, did a series of baffling mental effects and this does appear to be his forte. His book tests and predictions baffled the audience and he finished with a very funny rope routine when his underpants appeared!

The show ran like clockwork due to the efficient stage management of Richard Morrell assisted by Brian Wilson, Danny Hargreaves and Tim Cockerill, who religiously followed to the letter Jon Marshall’s excellent stage notes. Paul Kitchen as compere ensured that there were no long gaps or pauses in proceeding with his funny sight gags, quips and ad-libs. He really has developed into a very professional performer.

A short interval gave everyone a chance to reflect on the quality of the competition and the judges, Joe Gray, Debbie Hargreaves and Joan Wadsworth time to add up all the points, under the watchful eye of their Chairman, Rex Stott.

After the break Walt Lees took to the stage and made a very funny, very professional and very baffling contribution to the afternoon’s magic. His Cut and Restored Rope routine and his version of Nap Hand were well appreciated but pride of place went to his rendition of a Joe Smith monologue. Walt had chosen to do it, fully knowing that Arthur Setterington, its originator, would be on the front row. He loved it, along with the rest of the audience.

It was time for HMC President, Eddie Dawes to make the presentation and we had the rare spectacle, in my limited experience, of both the Tadman Trophy and the Spooner Trophy going to the same person, - Grant Constable. All the competitors received certificates, a prize, and the warm congratulations of Eddie and the acclaim of the audience.Humberside Young Magicians’ thanks go to Domanic Li, Rex Stott, Christine Allan, Diane Mendham, Vik Pandolfi, Matthew Whitney, Kara Savage, Dan Taylor and Roni who entertained the audience as they entered the auditorium, to Elsie Setterington, Malcolm Bromwich and Sylvia Harrop who looked after front-of-house and to Mark Ogden, Hull Screen Manager and his helpful staff. On the evidence of this afternoon’s performances the future of magic in the area looks extremely bright. We must keep our fingers crossed that a suitable venue can be found for the 2006 competition. See you there!

Brought to you at Enormous Expense….. it was Old Time Music hall night at The Sailmakers for the HMC December 2004 Christmas celebration. Organised by Debbie and Karen, who had scoured the several corners of Hull and Scunthorpe to engage the artistes, it was a splendid night that also incorporated the 2004 Bob Moore Comedy Trophy Competition. Six took part in the competition, each using their allotted five minutes to present their comedy presentations. The rules are simple – entrants have five minutes to perform a trick, or tricks, within five minutes. Go over and you are gonged out! Well, disqualified anyway. To make it easy a warning bell is given at four minutes and timekeeper Michael Harrop’s hand can clearly be seen reaching for the large bell. What excitement!

First up was Malcolm Bromwich with yet another variation on the presentation of his The Wall illusion, aided by Roxanne and Kevin the Dog. There seems to be no limit to the number of ways Malcolm can penetrate Roxanne in this device. Rex could probably have gone on for another hour with Bob Read’s combination of soldier’s prayer book and newspaper hat folding which eventually revealed a chosen card. Rex has entered the competition from the start and it’s really his tribute to the great friendship and respect that grew between the two in Bob Moore’s last few years. Ask Rex about the hilarity in Bob’s hospital ward. Clearly three of the performers decided to finish their comedy performances at all costs and sacrifice their chance of winning when it became apparent that at four minutes there was no way they could complete their acts in time.

First of these was Walt Lees who was very funny with repeated card selections that all turned out to be the same card, he finished with his egg-whisk mind reading and Card in Balloon.

Arthur Setterington inspired by a David Kaye idea in Magic performed an Indian Rope Trick with a puppet monkey.

Paul Kitchen failed to complete a hat trick of wins with a revelation of a chosen card sat on by Adam which Paul revealed by looking down into his mouth with a flash light. Paul finished with a death-defying feat of firing a loaded party popper into his mouth with no thought for his personal safety, another act that ran over time.

Gordon Stow frequently changed hats, and used local village patter to romp through Blendo, Stretching Streamer and other silk tricks.

After the vote Arthur Setterington was declared the winner – in his sixtieth year in magic – Arthur has now won every competition that Hull Magicians’ Circle hold (Except the Spooner and the Young Magicians’ Close-Up competition – but he did present that!)

The buffet followed and then it was time for the Old Time show, a great mix of our members revealing their musical and allied arts talents. Richard blew his own trumpet – well actually it was a cornet - with a rendition of Walking in the Air from The Snowman, accompanied by Ray on keyboard. Eddie was funny with, by permission of Amy, a Hexaflexagon and then Supreme’s Spotted with optician patter. The maestro of the key boards, Ray Burrell, accompanied acts and performed his arrangement of Silent Night. Roxanne and Danielle displayed their dancing talents. Arthur showed how, as you get older, long-term memory improves with a Datas inspired feat of memory. David Hand sang the Gilbert and Sullivan Major General number, performing the solo and all the parts of the chorus simultaneously! The top of the bill was Roland “I’m Leaning on the Lamp Post” Tuplin with banjo-ukulele in his hand and George Formby songs. All this introduced by Chairman, Jon Marshall suitably attired in top-hat and handlebar moustache.

The sponsors, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Hessle branch, had produced excellent publicity, colourful tickets and a good house for the Connolly Shield Competition 2005. At 7.30 p.m. on Friday March 11 in Hessle Town Hall the competition got underway with Paul Kitchen as compre introducing the first competitors Kevin Ward and Beau. Kevin took us through his professionally polished childrens show, compromising of Balls to Box, a Sawing in Halves of a child volunteer, followed by a levitation and decapitation of other helpers from the audience. Each assistant received a balloon flower for their trouble. Kevin and Beau finished with a Cube-Zag illusion.

Malcolm Bromwich and Roxanne Broadbent were next to perform. They started with a nice interlude of Cut-and-Restored Rope and Unequal Ropes, with Roxanne getting one-up on Malcolm. Malcolm got his own back by twisting Roxannes head round in his Head Twister illusion. A fun aside with the Hunter Puzzle Knot and a couple of audience members, led into what is now Malcolm and Roxannes signature piece, The Wall illusion. Unfortunately Malcolm ran slightly over time.

Third on was Daniel Hargreaves making his move from the Spooner Trophy to the Connolly Shield. Daniel opened with an impressive Vanishing Cane, produced an Umbrella from a copy of The Hull Daily Mail, vanished and re-appeared a silk a-la 20th Century. He then confidently showed his version of the Blocks-Off routine, Candle through Arm, the Phone Number card trick and finished with the Goodnight Wand. Unfortunately for Daniel he under-ran his declared time.

The final act of the competition and the eventual winner was Gordon Stow in his character of Professor Bumblebore. Gordon started off by trying to square a circle, and kept this up as a running gag. He produced a rabbit from his wizards hat. Gordon then showed his Sympathetic Ropes routine, followed by David Ginns Stretching Streamer, peppered with jokes which revealed Gordons dry sense of humour. A routine which blended the disappearance of a necklace, a watch, ring and money followed, and concluded with the re-appearance of the articles to a strong round of gasps and applause. Gordon concluded his act with the David Ginn Blendo, which gave a nice colourful end to his act and the competition.

Throughout the night Paul did an excellent job as compere. With strong magic and sight gags he filled the stage waits with ease and professionalism, using his Sponge Ball routine, Torn and Restored Newspaper, Gaetan Blooms McDonalds Bag with Pauls original script and Appearing Straw kicker, Party Popper Roulette, Card Called Phil, and Misers Dream.

In the second half whilst the judges were still deliberating, Alan Hudson treated the audience to a spot of his comedy magic, including Norm Nielsens Vanishing Ketchup Bottle, the, amazingly impossible, Ring in Gumball Machine and Ali Bongos Balloon trick which has become a strong closer for Alan, and was much appreciated by the audience.

The judges consisted of Ann Robinson from the RNLI, and two magical judges, our friends from the York Society, Maurice Deighton and Roger Martin. They decided that the winner for this evening should be Gordon Stow, with Kevin and Beau a close second.

The whole show ran smoothly thanks to the hard work backstage by Brian Wilson and Richard Morrell. HMC President, Eddie Dawes, thanked all concerned, with the evening raising over four-hundred pounds, benefiting HMC and the RNLI the evening was certainly deemed a success.

This is the second year of this competition for the trophy so generously donated by Arthur and Elsie Setterington, and the six competitors, introduced and well managed by former members of Humberside Young Magicians, provided first-class entertainment for Hull Magicians’ Circle and guests.

Thomas Collinson started confidently with the production of a red silk and then went into his excellent Ring and Rope routine which he performed to music. Other items in his programme involved the mental classic Thought Transmitter and Jay Sankey’s In a Flash. Jay himself would have been pleased with his confident handling. Thomas set a high standard which was to be maintained throughout the whole competition.Dale Constable, looking every inch a magician, performed with confidence. His was a patter act and he spoke clearly and amusingly. He exhorted those in the audience to cut down on their smoking and eventually produced a mini cigarette. His colour-changing CD routine showed good handling throughout.It was Joe Harper from Driffield’s first appearance in the competition but, you would never have guessed, watching him perform his impressive range of close-up magic, producing eggs, releasing blocks and finding selected cards. He related well with the audience and had a good running gag with Danny Hargreaves who was compèring the competition.

Danny then introduced Grant Constable resplendent in his fez. Grant did some good magic to which he brought his own personal twist and it was really effective. Instead of ropes he used gold and silver chains to perform Paul Curry’s classic routine. His version of Cups and Balls involved pet hedgehogs. Therefore you clearly felt this was the magic he wanted to do and his patter was made to measure. (One of my pet dislikes apart from the Frustration Count is seeing young magicians doing tricks and patter totally inappropriate to their age and it was delightfully refreshing to see that none of the competitors fell into this trap.) Grant finished on a high note with a very, very good handling of Rainbow Cascade – Elmsley Count and all!Alan Underwood went on next and again you would not have thought that this was his first time in a close-up competition. After a good Cups and Balls routine he made lollipops change colour and turned a light bulb on and off at his command. He finished with the David Regal version of Jim Steinmeyer’s Nine Card Trick. The final revelation of all the other eight cards being blank was a stunner.The final act was Dan Taylor, another first-timer who had only finally decided to enter the competition ten minutes before it was due to start. He impressively performed two items recently purchased following the David Ginn lecture and concluded with a prediction using Jumbo cards.

So ended a strong and successful competition. Danny Hargreaves as compère and Marley Rudland as stage manager deserved a lot of credit for ensuring everything went smoothly. Judges, (all the HMC members) placed Grant Constable first and Thomas Collinson as runner-up. The competition was well attended and it was good to see so many Mums, Dads, grandparents et al, supporting their youngsters. Ray Burrell, as Vice President, made the presentations and everyone seemed happy. With youngsters like these waiting to join HMC the future looks bright. But just a note of caution. As things stand, sixteen-year-olds still at school will now have to find £50 (entrance fee and subscription) before they can become members. Food for thought!!

Rex Stott reports. As I left Walkington, just before 7.00 p.m. to drive the few miles to Brough, it started to rain. Three miles and five minutes later as I descended from Welton Top the heavens opened. I sat in my car outside the Church Hall for at least ten minutes waiting for the deluge to ease off. I certainly didn’t fancy the thirty-yard dash to the door. I also began to wonder if there would be any audience at all for the event. I knew all the competitors would turn up but Joe Public was another matter. Eventually about a dozen drowned rodents appeared. They were joined by several members of HMC and a goodly number of Humberside Young Magicians and their friends and family giving a total of about a couple of dozen ticket holders. But, my, didn’t they do well! What they lacked in numbers, they more than made up in enthusiasm. It was a delight to sit at the back taking these notes and hear the number of spontaneous “oohs and “aahs” as the competition progressed.Michael Harrop had planned to use two tables but the reduced numbers caused him to halve his plans. So this year the competitors performed at one table instead of the three of last year.

First on was Richard Morrell, last year’s winner. His skilful Rope Routine, confident patter and obvious audience management skills ensured that the competition got off to a good start. His strong finish, which included the appearance of a Plant Pot full of pennies, must have caught the judges’ eyes.

A previous winner, Ray Burrell, was next on and, once again, an easy and comfortable rapport was established with the audience. In his relaxed style he told of his early interest in magic and did a very basic plastic Cups and Balls routine using apparatus from a magic set. This was eventually followed up by a full-sized version of the effect and his kicker finish was to produce the small set of cups from under the larger – very neat and very clever.Roland Tuplin started his act with the Chains and Knots routine, which had so impressed HMC members recently on the My Latest Trick evening. Members of the lay audience were completely mesmerised by this and by his Ring and Rope routine during which one youngster on the front row was heard to say, in a loud whisper, “It’s magic!”It was nice to see the next competitor, Kevin Ward, so often the winner of the stage competition, venturing into the field of close-up. Kevin is an experienced working semi-professional and, oozing confidence, he soon had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. They liked his Floating Card and his Invisible Deck routine and marvelled at the appearance of a borrowed ring on a key ring. On a personal note I was very impressed by his routine using a banded-deck where the face card dramatically changes to the selected card. Why not ask him to do it on Request Night? It’s a stunner!

Everything was going well and Domanic Li maintained this momentum with some very skilful card work. Then disaster and the curse of HMC competitions struck and Domanic did well to regain his composure and bring the act to a successful conclusion.Another previous winner, Tom Wilkinson, then took to the floor and, strangely seeming a bit nervous, took a while to settle. But settle he soon did, and Flash Cash and Sidewalk Shuffle were obvious winners with the audience. No cups and balls this year but a very baffling disappearance and re-appearance of a marked coin in a small envelope produced a strong reaction.Paul Kitchen must have gained maximum points for appearance. His infectious smile won over the audience as did his excellent version of Richard Pinner’s Casino Melt where three spectators cards appear in a glass. Paul finished with a well routined Coins-Across effect.

When the next competitor came forward it appeared as though he hadn’t any props with him. This was a ruse because once Malcolm Bromwich had produced some items from a glasses-case he did a wide range of bewildering impromptu magic that Martin Gardner would have been proud of. I know he’s going to share some of that routine with the Young Magicians at the next meeting and they are in for a treat.The final act (and how the time had flashed by, so good was the magic) was Gordon Stow. The audience liked his gentle, dry humour and his confident magic. The feature of his act was a Card-Printing routine, which produced several bursts of spontaneous applause from the audience.

An excellent competition came to an end and it was clearly obvious that the judges, Phil Peters and Mark Lee (of Merlins Magic) and a lay member of the audience, would have a difficult job in placing the competitors in order of merit. This is exactly what happened because half a dozen points separated the first five competitors. HMC President, Eddie Dawes, made specific reference to the very high standard as he presented the prizes to Richard Morrell as winner, Tom Wilkinson, runner-up and Roland Tuplin, third.The men from Merlins were very impressed with the standard, which they said would not have been out of place at an IBM close-up competition. What they particularly liked, they said, was that the competitors did good, strong, entertaining magic and, be fair, you can’t ask for much more. Despite the appalling weather, the evening raised nearly £60 for Brough Methodist Church. Another success for HMC – an excellent competition, well organised by Tom Wilkinson and Michael Harrop and well supported both by HMC and HYM.

I was always taught that a story should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but, as Eric Morecambe used to say, not necessarily in that order. So let’s start at the end of the story with Daniel Hargreaves being declared the winner for the sixth time in succession. I was always taught never say never but, let me tell you, this feat will never be repeated. What an achievement!

The five competitors collectively put on what was acknowledged as the best show for many years and with only one point separating first and second it could not have been closer. Compère Paul Kitchen got the show off to a good start and then kept things moving very smoothly between the performances with funny gags and strong visual magic.

First up was fourteen-year-old Alan Underwood, showing no signs of nerves on his debut appearance in The Spooner Trophy. His act included Card in Bottle, a version of Jim Steinmeyer’s Nine Card Trick, a block release and a stage version of The Clock Trick, constructed by his father. Next on was Grant Constable, at 12 the youngest competitor and another Spooner debutant. His cheeky smile and engaging patter soon had the audience on his side. He did some good magic which ranged from a skilful performance of Rainbow Cascade, through a neck penetration, to a sack and chains escape. Thomas Collinson was impressive with a skilful Ring and Rope routine performed to music. Amazing the audience with his polished performance of The Perfect Match, he closed with colourful silk productions. Five times winner Daniel Hargreaves then took to the stage. His opening trick, disappearing cane from silk foulard, was a real stunner – thanks to the wonder of Pledge! (see me for details). He then proceeded to perform a very well rehearsed act which featured a rope escape, a Magic Colouring Book, Ali Bongo’s multiplying straws and a card trick about Aliens. The final act, another new kid on the block, was fourteen-year-old Dale Constable. He looked the part and did some good stage magic which included a Billiard Ball routine, a Book Test and the sudden appearance of balls from inside a previously seen-empty casket. Here was another well structured act which had a strong opener – disappearing flames.

After just over an hour of excellent magic it was time for the judges, Joe Gray, Joan Wadsworth and Dot Prescott under the chairmanship of Arthur Setterington to reach a decision. It was not going to be easy.After the break Paul Kitchen entertained the audience with more excellent and original magic before introducing Malcolm Bromwich and Roxanne Broadbent who performed, inter alia, their Maskelyne Silver Wand Competition winning act. There was an audible gasp throughout the theatre when Malcolm banged the two sides of the screen together and all were relieved to find Roxanne unharmed.Then it was presentation time and HMC Vice President Ray Burrell presented The Tadman Trophy to Thomas Collinson and The Spooner Trophy to Daniel Hargreaves. All the competitors received a certificate and a cash prize. The replicas which were given to the two winners were provided by the family of Geoff Bell in his memory.

The show ran like clockwork and credit for that must go to Richard Morrell, Brian Wilson and Tim Cockerill who followed absentee, Jon Marshall’s, written instructions to the letter. Elsie Setterington and Sylvia Harrop performed their front-of-house duties expertly and Janice Stott ran a lucrative magic raffle for HYM funds. Hull Magicians’ Circle was well represented in the audience and Roni, Malcolm Bromwich, David Hand, Brian Waltham, Rex Stott, Domanic Li, Alan Johnston and Ray Burrell entertained the audience prior to the show.See you all next year.

There were two good signs at half past seven. The hall at Croxby Primary School was full and the show started on time. Jon Marshall compered the show and, as you’d expect from such an experienced and professional entertainer, he soon had the audience in a good mood. He then told them to sit back, relax and believe! They needed no further encouragement and the warmth of the welcome which greeted Malcolm Bromwich, the first competitor, was sustained throughout the evening.
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The second Bob Moore Trophy for Comedy Magic night certainly lived up to the great start this new competition achieved last season. The competition, suggested by Rex Stott, in memory of the highly inventive and entertaining past member, Bob Moore, is certain to become a well-supported and enjoyable part of the Hull Magicians' Circle syllabus.

Practically a full house assembled braving Hull's late-night shoppers and ensuing parking mayhem for an hilarious evening. [Read More]

What a huge success this was! Held on Wednesday, November 20 at Ferriby Methodist Hall the ten competitors performed good magic - but that’s what you expect from HMC members - but the real stars were members of the audience. There were about fifty highly enthusiastic ladies and a few gentlemen present who clearly enjoyed the performers’ skills and patter and showed it with their sustained applause. [Read More]