The Top 40 Favourite Jugglers of 2004 as voted by YOU!

-music fades

Hello and welcome! My name is William Williamson, your host for this evening's entertainment. How many of you remember last year's riveting countdown of juggler's favourite jugglers, as voted by the readers of rec.juggling? Tonight we are going to do it again! Another poll was conducted and the votes have been counted. My job is to be your guide through the world of juggling popularity, to introduce new faces and review the lives of past masters.

At regular points in the countdown we will also be casting an eye on the personalities who were found in the top forty last year but this time failed to make the grade. It's called the "Jugglers Dropped" category and contains some real surprises! For a start I can tell you Chris Chiappini and Paul Ponce are out. See who else has fallen from favour later in the show.

There are many jugglers climbing the chart this year, and of course a whole load of new entries. We have more expert comment from juggling pundits, the personalities themselves and real humans too. Are you ready? Lets get down to it!

- voice over "40"

Our first juggler is a new entry but not a juggler unknown to last year's countdown. Ofek Shilton was featured in the "Jugglers Dropped" section, just missing out on a place in the chart.

Still aged under 10 years old, Ofek Shilton is by far the youngest juggler to achieve world wide fame in recent years. This year he took the European Juggling Convention by storm once again, conducting and performing in the International Juggling Orchestra, as well as astounding jugglers more than twice his age with his control of 1, 2 and 3 diabolos. He also performed with his brother, Segev, at the national juggling convention of his native country, Israel, this April.

- cut to interview with Peter Gerber, German juggler and Kaskade Magazine reporter.

"I hate it when I am playing combat with someone who is only 104cm tall. When they run backwards into me, I don't drop because they hit my clubs, instead the little juggler passes right below them and hits me in the groin. But it is a joy to play combat with Ofek Shilton. He is only 79cm tall, meaning he bounces harmlessly off of my legs."

- voice over "39"

In at 39 is Josiah Jones, a juggler who is best known for his amazing numbers juggling with balls. He has records like 1000 catches with 7 and almost an hour of continual 5 ball cascade. Josiah was one of the first people able to juggle 6 ball mills mess and he is still under 20 years old. Last year there were many IJA junior competitors in the chart. This year there are very few. Josiah won Silver in 2002.

- voice over "38"

In at 38 is Jason Perry, a juggler from London, England. Jason has made it into the chart this year due to his continuing work with underprivileged girls aged eighteen to twenty, running juggling workshops for this needy section of society. When he sees the need he will often dedicate hours of his time to providing personal, one-on-one sessions with many different students in a single evening.

- cut to interview with Vicki, one of Jason's juggling protégés.

"Jason? What more can I say? He is one of the most caring men I have ever met. He deserves all the thanks he receives for his work here in the Kings Cross area."

- voice over "37"

Many years ago Rhys Thomas was bitten by a radioactive juggler. When it happened he didn't notice anything, except for some blood on the back of his leg, but as days passed he was compelled to juggle. It got to the point where he couldn't stop juggling. He juggled all the time, when he was talking, eating and sleeping. Once he even tried to juggle at the same time as getting intimate with his then-current girlfriend. He soon learned to control his problem and decided to use his powers for the good of mankind. Even so, you can see its effects on his performance today, as he still juggles cutlery and crockery. And he never shuts up.

- voice over "36"

A new entry at number 36 is a team of jugglers. The Flying Kamaratzov Brothers are a legendary quartet of juggling musicians who tour extensively in America, becoming the only juggling "household name" in the country. They have recently replaced two members of the lineup and have a new show called "Life, a guide for the perplexed". This year they were the featured performers at the International Jugglers' Association Summer Festival and were awarded the IJA Award of Excellence.

- cut to interview with Stephen Bent, young juggler and FKB fan.

"I am the FKB's biggest fan, which means they sometimes let me help out with the show. In Buffalo I was backstage and I saw Ivan, Pavel, Alexi and Dimitri standing in a circle holding hands. They were chanting in a strange language that made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. When they dropped each other's hands I notice small electric sparks pass between their palms. I walked away quickly. I don't think they saw me."

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

This year there is a distinct lack of Bruce in the chart. Pure numbers juggling seems to be out of favour. Bruce Tiemann, the first person to ever flash 11 balls, and Bruce Sarafian, the first person to ever flash 12 balls. see you later.

- voice over "35"

Chris Fowler, once called Juggling-Boy, has grown up and become a juggling man. His juggling skills have soared in the past few years and he hasn't been afraid to show them off. Chris has taken a leaf out of Thomas Dietz's book and posted a series of videos on his website, each one more astounding than the last.

When he isn't juggling, Chris Fowler is working to become a trick rider, performing with horses in rodeos. His goal in life is to combine juggling, horse riding, and his other hidden talent, playing chess, into a touring show called "Drop and Fall, Mate."

- voice over "34"

In at number 34 is Philip Meyhoefer. Philip is an amazingly talented 3 ball juggler and an expert at making silly noises with his mouth. He lives and performs with Stephan Sing, providing the soundtrack to their life and shows in a human beat box style.

Philip, along with Stephan, was featured in the European Juggling Convention Public Show this year in Carvin, France. Everyone who saw the act forgives him for the pink and black skintight costume he wore and admits that it was probably the best quality 3 ball juggling act ever.

Philip calls the duo "Philip and Stefan". Juggling experts disagree.

- cut to interview with Scott Seltzer, a juggling expert

"I disagree."

- voice over "33"

From one German juggling duo to another, in at 33. Jochen and Florien, two thirds of "Take That Out", took time out this year to work on a brand new juggling act. They left in place all their signature tricks, the take-outs, the steals and the mad skills with 5 clubs. They added in a kung-fu flavour, all the most recognizable themes from The Matrix and Kill Bill. They top it off with a dose of comedy, some cool characters and a classic twist on the "good vs evil" storyline. We are left with "GIVE ME YOUR SHOES", the act they performed in the EJC public show and the act that has left them fully booked in German variety theatres for the whole winter.

- cut to Luke Burrage, a fan of Jochen and Florien.

"Easily the best two-person juggling act ever. No question about it. It doesn't get any better than this."

- voice over "32"

All the slots in the chart so far this year have been filled by new entries. At 32 is Denis Paumier, down 15 places from last year's 17.

Denis has spent the past year away from the public eye working on new material. His favourite piece involves the use of blank CDs. He first scatters them around the stage and then attempts to pick them up in a set order using nothing but an old Pirouette club. "Some people ask me how I know which order to pick the CDs up," he told us, "but I have scratched a number on both sides of each one. I can see the number from the stage but the audience can't see the difference between them from where they sit."

- cut to interview with Jay Gilligan, a juggler who has performed with Denis for many years.

"My favourite part of the new act is when he dips the club into a pot of maple syrup. When it is sticky it is much easier for him to pick up the CDs."

- voice over "31"

At 31 we have another new entry. Last year he missed out on a place in the chart by just a few votes and was our highest featured personality in the "Jugglers Dropped" category.

This year Albert Lucas has stopped all work on his International Sports Juggling Federation. We all knew it wouldn't fly and he has seen sense for himself. This year a bigger character has taken over the goal of televised juggling competitions. The only reason why Jason Garfield is succeeding where Albert Lucas failed is that Jason thinks that "Joggling" (literally juggling and jogging at the same time) looks as stupid as it is pointless and has no intention of letting it ever become an event in the World Juggling Federation competitions.

Albert Lucas holds many world records, including "Most rings flashed while wearing knee-length white socks" and "Longest hair for any self-respecting male juggler".

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

This year Israeli juggler Ofek Shilton made it into the chart. Unfortunately other Israeli jugglers Scott Seltzer and Barak Reuben have made their exit.

- voice over "30"

Into the top 30 we go and find Peter Bone, up 4 places from last year. Peter Bone remains one of the best numbers jugglers in the world. His single goal in life is to be the first person to ever get 22 catches with 11 balls. He hasn't managed it yet but still holds the unofficial record of 18 catches with 11.

Peter has become a well-known and respected figure in his town, Little Frompton. He is on the parish council and is opposed to the planned development of a Vegas style casino to replace the children's play area in the park.

- voice over "29"

At 29 is another new entry in the form of Michael Menes. Michael has been performing since the early 1980's and still thinks he looks good in skintight black lycra. Michael has trained in many different artistic disciplines, including circus, dance, theatre and mime and he has studied under groundbreaking artists such as Michael Moschen. Menes brings all these influences together in some of the most beautiful 3 ball juggling routines ever performed.

He also does a weird trick where he folds himself up and juggles. This is anything but beautiful.

- voice over "28"

Down from last year's number 10 position is another Michael but this time of the Karas variety. 18 places is the largest drop by any juggler in the chart this year, though not as far as some of the "dropped" jugglers. Why has the young master of manipulation fallen so far from favour?

Last year he was riding a wave of approval after sharing some of the most interesting new juggling tricks of recent years. He released videos and performed at juggling conventions, inspiring jugglers wherever he went. What many people don't know is that earlier this year he lost managerial control of his juggling trick creation sweatshop, staffed entirely by child laborers in Malaysia. In a power struggle with a rogue middleman the entire supply is now being diverted to Will Penman. This meant Michael Karas failed to win any 3 ball juggling competition at the IJA festival in the summer and there is a marked drop in new videos. Even his section of the JuggleTween video was shunned for the lack of original tricks, instead he relied on humour and artistic expression.

- cut to interview with Warren Hammond.

"I still like him. His kung-fu act at the IJA festival was my favourite in a long time. How did Ivan Pecell and Luke Burrage both place over him? I've no idea."

- voice over "27"

Down 6 places is Scotty Cavanaugh. Last year we reported on his act that mixed maggots and extreme violence. This year he is working on a new routine to enter the World Juggling Federation competitions in Vegas. He hopes that his back somersault tricks with 3 clubs are going to gain him victory in the intermediates category. Expert opinions differ on this matter. Some people say that the best way to become the best juggler in the world is to keep up the violence theme.

Scotty currently lives with his wife and 5 children in Anchorage, Alaska. His only son complains about the cold but his Inuit wife is happier there than the hot bustle of San Diego.

- voice over "26"

Up 4 at 26 is Ivan Pecell, landing above his friend and rival Scotty by just one place. His rise in popularity is mainly due to his many headline performances at juggling conventions. He won the Silver Medal in the IJA Championships and the top prize in the 3 ball competition, making him one of the only jugglers to actually make money by attending the IJA festival. He is hoping to repeat his success in the 3 ball competitions at the WJF convention this winter.

- cut to interview with Emile Carey, Canadian bounce juggler who won Bronze in the IJA Championships.

"Ah yes, Ivan Pecell."

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

Last year ex-Cirque Du Soleil jugglers were popular on the chart. This year dorito chips don't cut the mustard. Pat McGuire and Steve Ragatz. farewell.

- voice over "25"

At 25 we find Sean Gandini, up 4 places since last year. Sean and his troupe, the Gandini Juggling Project have continued to perform new pieces of artistic juggling this year, once again traveling to the EJC to perform a show in a gym. This year they did a mammoth show called "10,000" where each member took turns to continue a count up to, you've guessed it, 10,000, while the rest of the troupe performed many old routines from the Gandini Project's past repertoire. Each show lasted almost 3 hours and not many people managed to watch all the way through.

Sean also performs with his partner Kati and British juggler John Blanchard in some one-off shows called "Don't break my balls" and "K'DNK".

- cut to interview with a man with a pixilated face and a distorted voice:

"Sean and the rest of the Gandinis demonstrate how wanky, arty juggling can be very entertaining at the same time as being wanky and arty."

- voice over "24"

A new entry at 24 is Dave Nager, the more considered half of "Dave and Warren". Dave is a young juggler from Rochester, New York and is fast becoming one of the most talented jugglers in that part of the world. This year at the IJA festival he won a unique double in the games, both the 3 Ball Open and the 3 Ball Simon Says. He isn't only a master of 3 ball juggling, as anyone who has seen his videos can tell you.

Having completed and released "Dave's Juggling Videos" part 1,2,3, 3 and a half and 4 he is now working on a new DVD called "The making of Dave's Juggling Videos."

- voice over "23"

One third of the creative force behind the hugely influential Peapot Juggling Videos, Ville Walo climbs 4 places to number 23. This year's new release from Peapot is called "Headache" and Ville agrees that it was a headache to make. "There was an imbalance in the fabric of the universal," he told us, "a disturbance somewhere in the ether that upset the very laws of science. I didn't know what to do except meditate for a few days until I ran out of josh sticks."

- cut to interview with Maksim Komaro, co-Peapoter.

".and when he came out of his trance he said 'Maksy, when are we going to make a video about cigar boxes?' And I said 'Next year, Villy, next year.'"

- voice over "22"

New at 22 is Niels Duinker. He is from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. We asked how he started juggling and he told us "I've been juggling for six years. I started at my local skate park which also sold some juggling props. I pushed myself to learn to juggle. Later, I got in touch with the youth circus in Rotterdam which drove me to continue practicing. I gained my skill by practicing every day at the train station and watched a lot juggling videos which pushed me towards the hard tricks."

Niels has flashed ten balls, nine rings and qualified seven clubs. He normally practices seven days a week, one hour a day. He is inspired by Valentino Bihorac and Jason Garfield and says "For me, the most important thing about juggling is to continue having fun." He also spends time doing judo and stunt skating.

- voice over "21"

At 21 is Jonathon Root, the smaller and louder member of Team Rootberry. This year they have been touring the world, performing in many countries that they discovered outside of the USA. As well as traveling to Peru, Nepal and Mozambique, they made a big impact in England where they performed and ran workshops at the British Juggling Convention. In break from tradition the team didn't return to the IJA festival for their yearly hoard of medals.

Jonathon continues to breed floppy eared rabbits but is branching out into short eared varieties. He is now setting up a new charity called "Former-Ex-Miss Rodeo America Rehabilitation Association".

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

Just turning up at an IJA Juniors competition seemed to be enough to get into the chart last year. This year the competition is a lot stiffer. CJ Smith Jr., Jon Brady and Adam Kariotis... catch you later, guys.

- voice over "20"

Sergei Ignatov is a veteran circus performer who still takes the center ring at the age of ninety-eight. In his prime Sergei would perform 11 rings on stage, long runs of 7 huge stage balls and effortless 5 club routines. Now he has toned down his act, to ease his ageing arms, but still puts most young jugglers to shame with long runs of 9 rings.

Sergei is considered to be one of the 4 greatest jugglers of all time yet is down 8 places this year, making way for younger jugglers who will surely pass his skill level one day, even if they don't attain Sergei's perfection in performance.

- voice over "19"

At 19 is Ben Jennings. Ben is British but now spends all his time living and performing in America. He took time off juggling this summer due to an acrobatics accident and a broken wrist. Ben will be back in action in the winter at the WJF competition where he will attempt to be the only British juggler to win both an IJA Gold and a WJF Gold.

Ben has touched the hearts and souls of the American jugglers and climbed 7 places in the chart this year. When asked about this, an anonymous expert told us, "It isn't so much that Americans like Ben more than the British jugglers, more that Americans dislike him less."

- voice over "18"

At 18 is a juggler who was featured in the "Jugglers Dropped" section last year. Luke Wilson, another British juggler abroad, is one of a huge number of favourite artists who performed this year in the EJC Public Show. He performed a perfect devilstick routine followed by some truly beautiful and dropless juggling with 1-5 clubs. He remains a major influence on all forms of club juggling in both Europe and America. He performs in Germany variety theatres full time, both with solo juggling and magic, and a duo act with his wife, Ilka.

- cut to interview with Ben Richter, otherwise known as Benjamin Smalls.

"How come Luke got into the to 20 and I didn't? I did almost exactly the same act as he did at the EJC and where did it get me? Nowhere! I better take up diabolo, cigar boxes or one of the other lesser forms of juggling."

- voice over "17"

Sean McKinney enters the chart at 17. Sean tragically passed away earlier this year, a shock to all those who knew him and the wider juggling world. From a young age Sean demonstrated that you don't need to stick to the all the old tried and tested tricks to excel in technical juggling and performance. Although he was best known for his work with 3 balls and 3 clubs, he could also do tricks with higher numbers that would put even the most technical jugglers to shame. One example is how he could juggle 5 balls and thrown in the siteswap 744. That might sound basic, but not when you consider every throw was a backcross, including the siteswap.

- cut to interview with Mark Bakalor, an organizer of the WJF convention.

"We are going to honor Sean by holding a 'Sean McKinney Competition' where people will try to juggle like Sean. Some people have pointed out that Sean was only such a remarkable juggler because he didn't try to emulate anybody else's juggling or style of performance, instead he was never anything but himself, both on and off stage. We at the WJF know this, but thankfully everyone entering the 'Sean McKinney Competition' will be American, so the irony of the situation will probably be lost on them too."

- voice over "16"

At 16 is Francis Brunn. Francis is another juggler who died earlier this year. He said that he didn't want anyone to hold memorials for him or write long descriptions of his life. So we won't. Mind you, dying doesn't seem to harm a juggler's popularity these days, and Brunn will probably live on in jugglers' collective memory for many years to come.

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

Contemporary and young jugglers are in fashion this year. Classic Vaudeville and Russian Circus juggling are out. Goodbye Bobby May and Evengi Biljauer.

- voice over "15"

Up 1 at 15 is another third of the Peapot Juggling Gang, Maksim Komaro. When he's not raising money to fund insurrections in Equatorial Guinea he spends all his time juggling, filming new tricks and performing interesting patterns.

When asked how he came up with all his new ideas he told us "I'm sorry, that is between me and my artistic nature." That may be but our own investigations have unveiled some rather sinister facts about his "artistic nature". Apparently he has his own source of new tricks in Malaysia, but not the child-labor sweatshops favoured by other creative types.

- cut to interview with Mr. Sam Po Lin, Malaysian private investigator.

".so I followed the supply truck. It went into a compound and left with a fresh batch of artistic creations. I slipped through the gate as it drove away. I had to find out the real source of these tricks. Then I saw the first orangutan, chained to a post, holding three of Maksim's trademark red buckets. Later on I saw a toucan in a cage, pushing a Radical Fish across the floor, as seen in Radical club news. I felt quite ill."

- voice over "14"

The next new entry, in at 14, is the German ball juggling maestro Stephan Sing. Stephan is a regular favourite of jugglers at the EJC, amazing thousands with his unique and flowing style and his mind boggling tricks with 1-5 balls. It doesn't matter if he is jamming in the gym, playing on the renegade stage, improvising on the open stage or presenting intricately choreographed routines in the public show, Stephan is able to leave everyone speechless. Until he stops juggling, of course, when he often gets a standing ovation.

This year he has been working with Philip Meyhoefer on a routine combining 1-3 ball juggling and human beat boxing. Each wears a pink and black skintight costume, which look rather fetching. So fetching, in fact, that Stephan Sing is the featured artist on the cover of the latest edition of Kaskade Magazine.

- voice over "13"

Down 7 places at 13 is another juggler who favours ball juggling and skintight costumes. Viktor Kee, the snakelike contortionist/acrobat/juggler/sex object is still touring with the Cirque du Soleil show Dralion. He is further down the chart this year due to his lack of appearances at any large juggling conventions to boost his popularity among new jugglers. Watch out for him next year when he performs at the 2005 British Juggling Convention in Perth.

- voice over "12"

A new entry at 12 is Manu Laude. Manu has been one of the core members of the Gandini Juggling Project for many years but is a solo performer of the highest level in his own right. He specializes in club juggling. His acts include lots of body movement, acrobatics and patterns, influenced by his modern dance training and a love of club swinging. Don't let the fact that he is French and has a bend towards artistic juggling put you off, his skills are incredibly technical too, he performs tricks such as 4 club mills mess effortlessly.

This year he teamed up with Jay Gilligan to work on one of the longest, most technical duo juggling acts ever. It is choreographed to a pumping techno soundtrack and includes loads of fun 3 and 4 club and ring juggling, plus a finale where they juggle 12 clubs between them.

- cut to interview with Ewan Crichton, audience member at the EJC public show.

"The music was so loud my ribcage was shaking. And the juggling made my head hurt. All in all a fantastic juggling act! Especially when Manu messed up and Jay made him dance."

- voice over "11"

The highest climber from last year, up 26 places, is Matt Hall. Last year the Juggling Sensei won the Silver Medal at the IJA Championships, surprising himself more than anyone else. With this newfound confidence he has traveled and performed more than ever before. This year he was a featured performer at the BJC and the IJA conventions, gaining him more fans since his EJC appearance last year. His proudest moment was when he performed an hour-long solo show at a regional juggling convention, demonstrating his huge variety of skills, tied together with stories of his world travels.

Unlike most jugglers in the chart, Matt Hall is not a professional juggler. As a day job he teaches furniture design at a local college. Then he uses his knowledge of Japanese to trick us into thinking he is a high school language teacher.

- cut to interview with Bill Berry, two thirds of Team Rootberry.

"This winter Matt will be representing his country in the WJF competitions, trying to hold up under the pressure from the Japanese, French and British diabolists. He will need all your prayers."

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

Notice something strange this year? All the jugglers so far have been of the male variety. What happened to the ladies? This year many got votes but none managed to break into the top 40. Cindy Marvel and Francoise Rochais. goodbye.

- voice over "10"

Breaking into the top 10 is the highest new entry for this year. Malta is a club juggler from Wupertal, Germany. Malta has a unique style of juggling and performing. At first you think that the tricks he juggles are very ugly. Then you see a few more and you get a develop a taste for them. Within a minute, which is all it takes for Malta to juggle at least 70 or 80 different tricks, you are completely taken. Malta is far too tall for his height

- voice over "9"

Down 1 at 9 is Bill Berry, the larger half of Team Rootberry. Last year he won just about everything he could at the IJA festival. He didn't return this year because they couldn't pay him enough. Bill did turn up at the BJC, but only because he was on the way to Beirut with his partner, Jonathan. His 3 ball juggling in the public show earned him many new fans, and now lots of young jugglers in the UK think it is un-cool to ever do a cascade between their tricks.

Bill has a tattoo on the inside of his lower lip that reads, "juggle".

- voice over "8"

Also down 1 is Ben Beever. Siteswap Ben is a true numbers juggling legend and one of only a few jugglers who can still out-juggle Thomas Dietz. This year he has set no new world records but has continued to perform at many juggling conventions in the UK. He also made a trip to Dusseldorf to take part in a juggling battle against the best juggler from Germany. By the end of the battle Ben was a clear favourite and performed the last trick of the night, a 10 ball flash, on his third attempt.

Ben is now a secondary school maths teacher.

- voice over "7"

At 7, down 3 from last year, is Jay Gilligan. In the past year Jay has done nothing new. That is, if you consider his usual and continual high level of original material as nothing out of the ordinary. Jay will always be a favourite because of his busy touring schedule, performing at dozens of juggling conventions every year. In 2004 he performed at most of the largest conventions, and many smaller ones too. He competed at the IJA convention, and performed with a huge group on the main stage. He hosted the "French and Friends Shows" at the EJC, a strange choice considering he is American, and performed an act called 'Pop Juggling' in the Public Show with Manu Laude. Other conventions he performed at include the Nordic and the British.

Not only has he worked hard on new juggling acts to inspire and bemuse, he is also training hard to improve his technical skills. His goal is to get 100 catches of 5 club backcrosses and has been stuck at 98 catches for far too long.

- cut to interview with British juggler and Kaskade reporter Jay Linn.

"At the BJC Jay did a 25 minute juggling act and it was the most "Jay Gilligan" act I have ever seen. The bit with the balloon was inspirational."

- voice over "6"

Are you in for a surprise? The juggler who was number one on the chart last year has slipped 5 places to number 6. This is, of course, Anthony Gatto. Anthony is still considered the greatest technical juggler ever. but for how long? With the likes of Thomas Dietz and Vova Galchenko starting so young and putting in all the hours, can he stay ahead of the pack?

He won the award of "Most Popular Juggler of 2003", but what has he done since? Well, as far as most jugglers are concerned, not very much. He hasn't performed at any juggling conventions, released any videos or DVDs, or even posted new video clips on his website. Instead he has continued working in casinos in Vegas and variety theatres in Germany. Great for earning money, not great for earning new juggling fans.

- cut to interview with Jason Garfield, last year's number two.

"HA! Who is laughing now, Tony?"

- voice over "Jugglers Dropped"

Kris Kremo is not in the chart this year. The bigger surprise is the lack of one of the four greatest jugglers of all time, Enrico Rastelli. Sorry Enrico, being a legendary juggler 100 years ago just doesn't hold up these days. Farewell.

- voice over "5"

Toby Walker leaps 8 places to this year's 5. Over the past 12 months Toby has continued to push the upper limits of human juggling skill higher with his 3 to 7 clubs juggling. Not many people can boast 7 club endurance records of over 100 catches. Toby could, but doesn't, as he is one of the humblest and quietest jugglers you'll ever meet.

Toby has performed at many conventions this year, including ShefCon and Bristol. He also astounded hundreds at the EJC, all lucky enough to witness him juggling in the gym. Later this year he is heading to the WJF convention to represent Wales in the "invite only" ball and clubs categories.

- cut to interview with Charlie Dancey, one of last year's "Jugglers Dropped".

"Of all the jugglers I have ever seen while I'm too drunk to stand up, Toby Walker is the one I remember the clearest. The way he rode a unicycle and span a hat on his finger at the same time will stay with me for a long time."

- voice over "4"

Up one place at 4 is Luke Burrage. What is Luke Burrage doing above Anthony Gatto, you ask? Well, you cast the votes. Getting rid of his popular website did Luke no harm. It left him more time to concentrate on actual juggling, rather than just talking about it. As well as giving up his website, Luke also quit his day job, leaving him as much time as he wanted to concentrate on performing. He spent much of the year on a "Big World Juggling Tour" performing at 20 conventions in 10 countries. Highlights for Luke include performing a new act at the BJC, once again combining live action with pre-recorded video images, headlining the Dutch Convention public show, winning the People's Choice Award at the IJA festival, performing on the Open Stage at the EJC and being part of the International Juggling Orchestra. He has performed at so many conventions (43 out of the last 45 he has attended) that he hosted a convention in his own town, with no show, just to have a rest.

Not content just to juggle onstage, Luke also spends free hours of the day working on new juggling ideas to share with the world via the internet, magazines and workshops at conventions.

Later this year Luke will not be traveling to the WJF competitions as he has better things to do with his time.

- voice over "3"

Combining their votes, Vova and Olga Galchenko stick at number 3. The record-breaking club-passing duo are still living, training and juggling in the USA, with Jason Garfield as their head coach. Working with Jason was obviously a good move because this year they cruised to an easy victory in the IJA Teams Championships, a goal that eluded them last year.

Both Olga and Vova admit they don't care much about performing their juggling skills to audiences. Instead they find other motivations such as breaking their own records and competing in juggling competitions. They are obviously looking forward to the WJF convention and are just as obviously going to win the top prizes in any event they enter together. Team Rootberry doesn't stand a chance.

Individually they are both improving at an incredible rate. Olga wins every 5 club endurance competition she enters, not an inconsiderable feat for a 14 year old girl. Vova is becoming a technical club juggling monster, eclipsing even his mentor, Jason. Vova makes 7 club juggling look easy.

- cut to interview with Thomas Dietz, speaking though a translator.

"Thomas says 'I am glad I entered the IJA competition this year. Next year Vova will be competing in the individuals. If he had entered this year I wouldn't have bothered.'"

- voice over "2"

Climbing 17 places to number two on the chart is Thomas "One Hour" Dietz. Where to start? Maybe it would be easier to say what has Thomas NOT done this year?

A few of the things that has propelled him so high up the chart are: attending and performing at almost 30 different juggling conventions, releasing a few more videos on the internet, winning the IJA Championships plus another Gold medal in a numbers competition, headlining the IJA public show, performing in the EJC public show. and the list goes on.

Thomas' no-compromise approach to juggling means he enforces upon himself a strict practice schedule. This boosts his skills to never-seen-before standards. He works tirelessly on numbers, pirouettes, siteswaps and backcross variations, combining them into ever more creative, complex and difficult patterns.

- cut to interview with Vova Galchenko.

"I'm glad Thomas entered the IJA competition this year. Next year I will be competing in the individuals. If Thomas was entering too I wouldn't bother."

- voice over "1"

Up one place at number one is Jason Garfield. Last year it was a very close thing between him and Anthony Gatto but this year Jason is way ahead of any other juggler in the polls.

Jason has been very busy this year. He hasn't been performing or releasing videos as usual, instead he has been working on a new kind of competitive sports juggling. By setting up the World Juggling Federation he constantly keeps himself in the public eye, yet some people find it strange that he is going to take part in the competitions for which he wrote the rules himself. No matter, the first WJF event this winter will probably be the largest gathering of world-class jugglers, all trying to be as much like Jason Garfield as they possibly can. That is real influence for you!

Jason has cut down on moaning about and insulting other jugglers and has started helping them instead. By spending time coaching Vova and Olga he made them into more consistent jugglers and far better performers, and are now far more entertaining to watch.

We are proud to award Jason Garfield the title of "Most Popular Juggler of 2004".

And so we end the countdown of the favourite jugglers of 2004, as voted by you!

This year we have had some real surprises, many new entries and some disappointing exits. What will happen over the next 12 months? Who will win the WJF competitions? Who will perform at the most conventions? Who will release the best videos? Who will break the most world records? If you were unhappy with the results this year, you know what to do next autumn. get voting, tune in, and find out who is awarded the title in 2005.

I hope you've enjoyed the show. My name is William Williamson, goodnight!

-mix through to end credits.