Workshops
Timetable - will be posted closer to the event
WHIPS
ANGEL "Whip Kiss" BECK
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Don't mess with her - calling all the shots as the chairwoman of the Festival she has a number of years experience with whips and will be running whip workshops.
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First cracked a whip: 2013
Favourite crack: The Buttcrack (Tasmanian cutback)
JAMES "Young Gun" HEWITT
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Having taught himself to make nylon whips he will be running the 'Instant whip' workshops and introduction to basic braiding as well as the targeting whip workshops alongside Pecan Pete. (see video below for a fun little targeting and co-ordination challenge if you want to get some practice in!)
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First cracked a whip: On a horse ranch in the Aussie outback (2008)
Favourite crack: Arrowhead
KNIVES & AXES
ALAN "AKP" PARISH
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Having started throwing 5 years ago Alan became a serious thrower about 3 years ago. Since then he has been to 2 world championships coming 13th in 2016 and 6th in 2017. He also became UK Champion in 2017 at the UK Championships in Huthwaite. He loves to throw at the silhouette board as can be seen in the video below
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First threw a knife / axe: 2011
Favourite knife/ axe: Werner Lengmuller Tanto Spinner Bowie
LASSO
ROGER "Le Barbe Blanche" ARNAY
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Roger, an Anglo / Canadian, first threw from a horse aged 10 and developed his skills while holed up in a cabin where he was snowed in.
Roger will be running beginners lasso workshop as well as supporting Alan on the knife & axe throwing range. He is also a leather worker making knife sheaths and belts.
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First threw a lasso: 10yrs old
Favourite lasso trick: Wedding ring on the bounce
ARCHERY
MARK "RamBOW" BOND
Mark will direct you in the ways of accurately sending your arrow down the range to the hit gold. He is also very handy with a knife (see video below) and axe so you will no doubt see him on the range too.
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PETE 'Pecan Pete' Gamble
We are fortunate to have Pete coming to join us from his circus workshop company, A Handful of Hats. With many years experience in the Western Skills this multi-time National and International Whip Cracking Performance and Target Champion will be helping tutor whips and more specifically targeting work with some fun competitions too.
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First cracked a whip: I was handed my first whip to crack by Max Faulkner a talented stuntman and actor in a hotel bar I was running in The Peak District in 1976, it didn'tgo well .. but I was determined to do better and got my chance with Splott State Circus in 1995.
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Favourite crack: Queensland Crossover .. still can't do it ....
IAN 'Rednek Roy' Savin
A talented whip maker and long term sideshow performer who has travelled the globe with his very own brand of western arts freakshow incorporating whip cracking and knife throwing will be joining us to teach his signature class of beginners whip cracking and performance.
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Favourite crack: The 'Smoking Ban'
GUN SPINNING (Sunday Only)
AYESHA 'Cabaret Cowgirl' HUSSAIN
Tired of letting the boys have all the fun, Ayesha has stormed an otherwise mainly male dominated art form, and made it her own. Trained by a real life American cowboy, her expertly honed western skills and polished presentation, as well as constant training and crafting of her skills have made her shows unparalleled by any other woman currently performing wild west shows. This woman truly is a powerhouse! Gun slingin’, Whip crackin’, knife throwin’ around the world with all the high morality of a sheriff, and the stone cold cunning of an outlaw, you could pick no deadlier dame to bring the old american west to your doorstep!
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