Egg and Spoon Race on Unicycles.

Julian Orbach wrote:
[color=blue]>We had two parts:[/color]
[color=blue]> - a time trial where you had to slalom around a short course while holding[/color]
[color=blue]> a spoon (near the end of the handle) with a raw egg sitting on it, and[/color]
[color=blue]> - an "egg-off" amongst the 5 best times - a bit like "gladiators" except[/color]
[color=blue]> the last person with an egg (in one piece) still on the spoon was[/color]
the
[color=blue]>winner.[/color]

[color=blue]>Were we the first to try this? When will the IUF official rules be available?[/color]
[color=blue]>If anyone else tries it, I would like to hear how it went.[/color]

What were your rules? How did the egg-off work? It wasn't really gladiators with
eggs, was it? I think I'd rather photograph such a thing than do it...

jf

A group of us in Sydney gave Unicycle Egg and Spoon Races a try on Sunday.

We had two parts:
- a time trial where you had to slalom around a short course while holding
a spoon (near the end of the handle) with a raw egg sitting on it, and
- an "egg-off" amongst the 5 best times - a bit like "gladiators"
except the last person with an egg (in one piece) still on the spoon
was the winner.

It was a moderate success. There was the standard bickering about rules,
and a few riders who were uninterested in participating, but it went
reasonably smoothly.

While there were several drops on the ground (A bucket of sand and a dust-pan
and broom were used to clean up the mess), I managed to be the only person who
got the yolk - my juggler instincts made me try to catch my egg as it dropped
off the spoon, resulting in a handful of goo.

Were we the first to try this? When will the IUF official rules be available? If
anyone else tries it, I would like to hear how it went.

Julian Orbach mailto:Julian.Orbach@unforgettable.com

Julian Orbach sent the rules:
[color=blue]>Egg-Off: The best 5 times (= 5 spoons required) went into the egg-off. It is[/color]
[color=blue]>like gladiators, except there is no need to dismount the opposition. Just give[/color]
[color=blue]>their spoons a good tap. Last person with an egg on the spoon is the winner.[/color]

Spoon Gladiators! If riders are also allowed to bump each other it might be a
contest of the quickest and most maneuverable riders.

Playing it with a large group would get interesting after a while, as the riding
surface gradually gets more and more slimy.

jf

John Foss asked:

[color=blue]> What were your rules? How did the egg-off work? It wasn't really gladiators[/color]
[color=blue]> with eggs, was it? I think I'd rather photograph such a thing than do it...[/color]

My set of rules were based on:
* limited resources (only 5 spoons of the same shape),
* the desire to keep the result reasonably random (not related too much to
skill) so everyone could be involved, and
* observations that the most difficult part of keeping an egg on a spoon is
during the sharp turns, not necessarily the high speeds

Hence, I didn't want to have simply everyone sprinting along a straight course -
the winner would just be the fastest unicycle rider.

Time Trials: A short slalom course was set up (4 cones about 1.5 metres (5
feet) apart).

Eggs and spoons were passed to each participant (one at a time) once there were
mounted, and leaning on someone. Participants had to hold the spoon in their
hand near the end of the handle - we did not get as far as "spoon in the mouth",
although a couple of us have tried it - could be a bit dangerous).

Dropped eggs => disqualification. Going the wrong way around the course
=> re-start.

Egg-Off: The best 5 times (= 5 spoons required) went into the egg-off. It is
like gladiators, except there is no need to dismount the opposition. Just give
their spoons a good tap. Last person with an egg on the spoon is the winner.

Hi there was a unicycle 'egg and spoon' race at EJC 98 / BUC5 (Edinburgh) in
August,however there was a slight cheat in that ping pong balls were used (and
bluetack :-) in one case) There were about 10-15 entries , if my memory serves
me correctly, it went quite well Trev
----------
[color=blue]> From: Orbach, Julian <Julian.Orbach@lucent.com> To: UNICYCLING@winternet.com[/color]
[color=blue]> Subject: Egg and Spoon Race on Unicycles. Date: 28 September 1998 09:12[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> A group of us in Sydney gave Unicycle Egg and Spoon Races a try on[/color]
Sunday.
[color=blue]>[/color]
<snip>
[color=blue]> Were we the first to try this? When will the IUF official rules be available?[/color]
[color=blue]> If anyone else tries it, I would like to hear how it went.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Julian Orbach mailto:Julian.Orbach@unforgettable.com[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]

Trevor Pearce-Jones

Trevpj@globalnet.co.uk Devizes. Wiltshire. England.

I think that it was a good idea to do some fun things like unicycle 'egg and
spoon' race at Edinburgh Dammage that sort of thing was not organized in Unicon
9 at Bottrop.

Trevor Pearce-Jones write ...
[color=blue]>Hi there was a unicycle 'egg and spoon' race at EJC 98 / BUC5 (Edinburgh)[/color]
......

======================================================================== ======
)--/============= "Egg And Spoon" (:======================/--(
======================================================================== ======

All:

It was indeed a great thing in Edinburgh to have had the "Egg and Spoon" races,
blind - fold races, pick up basketball etc.

This is especially true for my group of Hong Kong riders who attended both
Unicon and BUC 5. In Bottrup, which was their first competitive track appearance
ever, they (along with most of the world's UNI racers) were pummelled and
embarrassed by the speed of the PRC Chinese riders. Many of my boys simply fell
onto their faces on the track race after race trying to keep up with an
unnatural, supersonic pace. (another lesson learned) Needless to say, they were
frustrated and demoralized.

One boy even refused to line up for his next race, and encouraged other
teammates to do the same. He didn't "get it" that these races are just "games,"
and that to simply be on a track halfway around the world with the world's best
was an honor.

This boy went back to Hong Kong early ...... (Thanks to help and understanding
from Ken Fuchs !!!!!)

For the others, they learned powerful lessons about riding within their own
ability levels, and that attendence / participation at UNICON was the REAL
VICTORY! We closed with a fun but not too technical group performance, again a
first - ever public show for "The H.K. Eagles" outside of Hong Kong. Not one
boy fell off; not even me who had stepped in to replace the missing rider! The
Kung Fu spoof aspect of our show replaced the fun lost during all that
"serious" track racing. After all the applause and cheers from the
international crowd, my boys were proud of themselves once again. We wondered
while watching show after amazing group show, "Where were the PRC Chinese on
this final day of group action?"

After closing at Bottrup, we RACED to Edinburgh where we participated in "Egg
and Spoon, Basketball, M-Uni" etc...... fun had by all. Thanks and Thanks again
to Roger Davies.

On the way back to Frankfurt airport, we stopped in London and in Cologne where
we had more fun racing and clowning along the Thames and Rhine rivers under the
little - known, post 1997 Handover, Hong Kong and USHK Flags!

There's truly more room for these sorts of "spirited, yet still competitive"
events at UNICON. Besides, as with John Foss "Sumo" Championship at UNICON Day
1, the crowd appeal was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Hats off to the organizers of both UNICON 9 AND BUC 5 for events staged and
lessons learned by us!!!

S. G. Dressler )--/====================== - President

"The Unicycling Society of Hong Kong"

P.S. "Tah Tan Gah!!!!!"

At 08:29 PM 9/30/98 +0200, you wrote:
[color=blue]>I think that it was a good idea to do some fun things like unicycle 'egg and[/color]
[color=blue]>spoon' race at Edinburgh Dammage that sort of thing was not organized in Unicon[/color]
[color=blue]>9 at Bottrop.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>Trevor Pearce-Jones write ...[/color]
[color=blue]>>Hi there was a unicycle 'egg and spoon' race at EJC 98 / BUC5 (Edinburgh)[/color]
[color=blue]>......[/color]
[color=blue]>>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]

Steve "Tah Tan Gah" Dressler wrote:

[color=blue]>In Bottrup, which was their first competitive track appearance ever, they[/color]
[color=blue]>(along with most of the world's UNI racers) were pummelled and embarrassed by[/color]
[color=blue]>the speed of the PRC Chinese riders.[/color]

This illustrates the many different philosophies that come together at an
international event like UNICON. Some of us are there to win. Others are there
to hang out and have fun. Even others are there to learn, while another group is
there to play team sports.

Most of us fall into more than one of those categories, but if we're too focused
on one, we many find we're not getting what we wanted from UNICON. We want
UNICON to be able to appeal to all those riders, but without concentrating so
much on any one of those areas that it takes away from the others.

Competition events have always dominated UNICON, and this year the large number
of riders made this fact much more obvious than in the past. It's time to do
something different for future events, to keep a level "playing field" for all
the different categories of riders.

[color=blue]>race after race trying to keep up with an unnatural, supersonic pace.[/color]

So *that's* what that noise was in every race!

[color=blue]>The Kung Fu spoof aspect of our show replaced the fun lost during all that[/color]
[color=blue]>"serious" track racing.[/color]

Too bad there wasn't more technical showing-off. I think many people never got a
chance to see how skilled the Hong Kong Eagles were.

[color=blue]>We wondered while watching show after amazing group show, "Where were the PRC[/color]
[color=blue]>Chinese on this final day of group action?"[/color]

It takes a lot more to put together a killer artistic performance than to train
for fast track racing. China is so new at our sport, it usually takes more rider
exposure to performances, and a few years before strong artistic riding
develops. It also requires an environment in which to do
it. If the main concentration has been on track (which it successfully has),
artistic won't develop until riders have coaching and the structured time to
work on it.

Hosting one's own UNICON works wonders in this area. Before UNICON IV, the
Puerto Ricans were mostly known as basketball players. But during the buildup
and the years after, artistic flourished. Many of our subsequent artistic world
champions were from there.

I'd like to see what kind of slant the Chinese can bring to Freestyle. Hopefully
there will be some influence from the Chinese acrobatic circus!

[color=blue]>There's truly more room for these sorts of "spirited, yet still competitive"[/color]
[color=blue]>events at UNICON. Besides, as with John Foss "Sumo" Championship at UNICON Day[/color]
[color=blue]>1, the crowd appeal was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!![/color]

Steve was equally responsible for organizing our "fun" Sumo tournament. More
events and games like this will be a great addition to future conventions.

I'd like to hear ideas from people of what they would like to do at their next
unicycle convention, regardless of the convention size. When we set to work
again on the IUF Rulebook, we will have changes in mind that will make
conventions more fun, with more variety. There will always be those world
champion events, but we need a way to satisfy a larger number of attendees.

What would YOU like to do/see/play?

John Foss

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gazou30ch@infonie.fr wrote:

[color=blue]> I think that it was a good idea to do some fun things like unicycle 'egg and[/color]
[color=blue]> spoon' race at Edinburgh Dammage that sort of thing was not organized in[/color]
[color=blue]> Unicon 9 at Bottrop.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Trevor Pearce-Jones write ...[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >Hi there was a unicycle 'egg and spoon' race at EJC 98 / BUC5 (Edinburgh)[/color]
[color=blue]> ......[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]

The egg and spoon race used pingpong balls instead of eggs because it is very
hard to ride fast as the wind blows the ball off the spoon. This is a great
leveler and allows meaningful participation in the game by all age and skill.
Another game/race that works in a similar way is a candle relay race where a
lighted candle must be passed from one member of the team to the next without
it going out

The convention scene in the UK generally tends to be non-competitive and is more
geared towards participation. Organisers try and give a broad selection of
events that will encourage the people attending to:

* meet with like minded people (and party).
* improve their skills through both organised and spontanious workshops.
* compete in team and individual events.

The organisers of UNICON in Bottrop did an absolutely brillient job. What had to
be run/organised was run very efficently. Where I think UNICON is lacking, is as
an event, it has too narrow a focus.

At BUC/EJC the balance of nationalities in the workshops was very different from
that at UNICON, the majority apeared to be French or Italian.

Why do these people not want to come to UNICON?

I think that this is because they are from a more non-competitive culture where
unicycling is more geared towards entertainment. The entertainment and the
competive side of unicycling have a lot to teach/show each other and would
benefit from more contact.

EUROCYCLE 99 in Demark should be interesting.

OK that is it...... well not quite - 3 other things

* The Next Durham Juggling Festival is next weekend and there will be loads
of unicycling: workshops, hockey and of course muni. So if you likely to be
about, please come and have fun.
* Ali Close (the one who actually organised the races at BUC5) has got the
video of BUC4 finished and can be contacted on (01452) 617825. She also has
a very limited number of the BUC4 t-shirt for you unicycle t-shirt
collectors
* I also have a few of the BUC5 tshirts for sale.

That's it

Cheers

Roger

----------------------------------------------------
Roger.Davies@Octacon.co.uk
Stockton, North East England

For information on the Durham Juggling Festival
http://homepages.enterprise.net/mini/fest98.htm

For information on The British Juggling Convention
http://homepages.enterprise.net/mini/bjc12.html
----------------------------------------------------

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<HTML> gazou30ch@infonie.fr wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>I think that it was
a good idea to do some fun things like unicycle 'egg and <BR>spoon'
race&nbsp; at Edinburgh <BR>Dammage that sort of thing was not organized in
Unicon 9 at Bottrop.

<P>Trevor Pearce-Jones write&nbsp; ... <BR>>Hi <BR>> there was a unicycle 'egg
and spoon' race at EJC 98 / BUC5 (Edinburgh) <BR>...... <BR>></BLOCKQUOTE>
The egg and spoon race used pingpong balls instead of eggs because it is very
hard to ride fast as the wind blows the ball off the spoon.&nbsp; This is a
great leveler and allows meaningful participation in the game by all age and
skill.&nbsp; Another game/race that works in a similar way is a candle relay
race where a lighted candle must be passed from one member of the team to the
next without it going out

<Q>The convention scene in the UK generally tends to be non-competitive and is
more geared towards participation.&nbsp; Organisers try and give a broad
selection of events that will encourage the people attending to: <UL>
<R>meet with like minded people (and party).</LI>

<S>improve their skills through both organised and spontanious workshops.</LI>

<T>compete in team and individual events.</LI> </UL> The organisers of UNICON in
Bottrop did an absolutely brillient job. What had to be run/organised was run
very efficently.&nbsp; Where I think UNICON is lacking, is as an event, it
has too narrow a focus.

<U>At BUC/EJC the balance of nationalities in the workshops was very different
from that at UNICON, the majority apeared to be French or Italian.

<V>Why do these people not want to come to UNICON?

<W>I think that this is because they are from a more non-competitive culture
where unicycling is more geared towards entertainment.&nbsp; The
entertainment and the competive side of unicycling have a lot to teach/show
each other and would benefit from more contact.

<X>EUROCYCLE 99 in Demark should be interesting.

<Y>OK that is it......&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; well not quite - 3 other things
<BR>&nbsp; <UL>
<Z>The Next Durham Juggling Festival is next weekend and there will be loads of
unicycling: workshops, hockey and of course muni.&nbsp; So if you likely to
be about, please come and have fun.</LI>

<Z>Ali Close (the one who actually organised the races at BUC5) has got the
video of BUC4 finished and can be contacted on (01452) 617825.&nbsp; She also
has a very limited number of the BUC4 t-shirt for you unicycle t-shirt
collectors</LI>

<Z>I also have a few of the BUC5 tshirts for sale.</LI> </UL> That's it

<Z>Cheers

<Z>Roger

<Z>----------------------------------------------------
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Roger.Davies@Octacon.co.uk
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stockton, North
East England

<Z>&nbsp; For information on the Durham Juggling Festival <BR>&nbsp; <A HREF="h-
ttp://homepages.enterprise.net/mini/fest98.htm">http://homepages.enterprise.-
net/mini/fest98.htm</A>

<Z>For information on The British Juggling Convention <BR>&nbsp; <A HREF="http:-
//homepages.enterprise.net/mini/bjc12.html">http://homepages.enterprise.net/-
mini/bjc12.html</A> <BR>----------------------------------------------------
<BR>&nbsp;</HTML>

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