Craig's act is just magic



A talented young magician has been named as Junior World Grand Prix Champion of Close Up Magic.

Craig Maddox, of Liverpool Road, Ainsdale, beat stiff competition to scoop the title at the World Junior Magician Championships in Blackpool last week.

"When they announced I'd won I was in shock," Craig, 18, told The Champion.

"I thought 'was that my name or am I dreaming?'  I didn't think I was going to win because when I got there people were building big illusions.  I thought I was out of my depth, but I just did my thing and then won."

Craig, a performing arts student at Southport College, was one of just 13 competitors selected to perform in front of judges and an audience of 300 at the championships.

He did a 10-minute slot, performing two of his speciality tricks - the classic linking rings using barbed wire and swallowing a modelling balloon.

"I might start entering adult competitions next, but at the moment I'm just relaxing from all the stress," Craig said.

He won £200 and a trophy for the Junior World Champion title and £500 and a bigger trophy for the Grand Prix title.

Craig describes his style of magic as a mix of comedy magic and mentalism and cites Penn and Teller, David Blaine and Derren Brown among his heroes.

He has been practising since he was 14 when a magic shop opened near his home and entertains visitors to Southport with close-up magic in the summer.

By Natasha Robson



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