Tag Archives: pub tricks

Leicester Mercury Sports Awards with Willie Thorne

A member of the crowd helps with a trickshot

It was busy night for me at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards yesterday. I had the honour of providing entertainment for the 450 guests before they took their seats for the Awards Ceremony at Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road Stadium.

Me with Willie

It was great to be able to perform at an event attended by so many celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment. I had the pleasure of sharing a dressing room with the evening’s host, snooker legend Willie Thorne, who also helped me with some practice before the show!

During the evening, another cueman, World Snooker Number One, Mark Selby was crowned Sportsman of the Year, while Whitwick athlete Gemma Steel won the Sportswoman of the Year trophy.

The ceremony included a Lifetime Achievement award for the first time. It went to former Leicester City and Leicestershire CCC player Graham Cross and was presented by William Roache, Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow.

After the ceremony, entertainment was provided by the soulful X-Factor star, Andy Abraham.

The event has been running for over 15 years, but it was the first time it was organised by Champions (UK) plc. Their team did a fantastic job, bringing some real showbiz sparkle to the awards. It was fantastic to be just a small part of the proceedings.

Child’s Play

Another simple shot that is used in other more elaborate shots. However, there is something elegant about the simple set-up and the way the balls find their ways into tthe pockets.  You need to do some work to get the cue ball in too!
 
Video 1 – The Performance
 
 
Video 2 – The Explanation
 
Click here to download instructions (PDF)
 
 
 

 

3 Clear

This Pool Trick forms the basis for some other shots. The principle of potting two balls set near the middle pocket by playing across the face of the outer ball is used in many other tricks, and so is the idea of taking the cue ball around the table from that position. You need practice and a reasonably good table to pull this one off.
 
Video 1 – The Performance
 
 
Video 2 – The Explanation
 
Click here to download instructions (PDF)
 
 
 

Eye Eye!

A distinctive trickshot with a surprising ending. The set-up relies on pure physics to make it work, so take your time to get the balls in the right position before you start this trick shot
 
Video 1 – The Performance
 
 
 
Click here to download instructions (PDF)
 
 
 

 

Play Away!

An unusual shot where you play away from the ball that you hit into the pocket. The idea is to play into the cushion and pot the ball on the rebound, because the balls are touching it gets a bit complicated.
 
Video 1 – The Performance
 
Video 2 – The Explanation
 
Click here to download instructions (PDF)
 
 
 

The famous “Ball in the Mouth” gallery

When the new look stevedaking.com launched earlier this year, we transferred a lot of the content over to the new website, but somewhere along the way, we lost the famous “Ball in the Mouth” gallery.  This is a collection of pictures I have taken of the lucky volunteer who helps me out with a trickshot during some of my shows.  It’s all good fun!

I seem to have mislaid a big batch of the pictures, but I do have the start of the first gallery. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce – Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I give you the return of the famous “Ball in Mouth” gallery.