THE BALLOON MAN

Sheffield circus act breaks world axe-juggling record

from- thestar.co.uk 

by Ellen Beardmore

May 1, 2014

Sheffield circus act Chris Marley holds a world record that is tough to handle - the most consecutive axe juggling catches.

The 29-year-old has made history – and his way into the Guinness World Records book – by catching an astonishing 369 throws in a row.

Chris, of Upperthorpe, trained for months to perfect his technique and beat the previous record held by American Max Winfrey by 200 catches.

He said: “I trained using the axes, because there isn’t really a way around it – they have a pretty unusual weight distribution.

“It was difficult and I had a couple of near misses, but all my fingers and toes are still intact.

“It feels good to be a record holder, all the hard work has paid off.

“The only problem now is I have a load of axes which I don’t need.”

Chris has been juggling for 12 years and trains at Sheffield’s Greentop Circus in Wincobank, although he travels the country to perform as a freelance juggler.

The world record was smashed at Greentop in November and filmed for Guinness adjudicators who have now made it official.

A panel of experts and independent witnesses watched, while Chris also had to chop wood with each of the axes to show they were sharp and fit for purpose.

He said: “It started when I was a teenager and then I started getting bookings, did some part-time work and now I am professional, so really it is a hobby that got out of hand.

“I’ve been juggling for years and wanted to try something a little bit different and break a world record.

“Friends were surprised when I told them about the axe juggling, but when I tell people what I do for a living, they don’t always believe me anyway.

“I’d never say never about another world record, but not at the moment,although I have got some stuff in the pipeline for new tricks.”