Champions tell how to play yo-yo

Yo-yo string tricks are continually being invented

Two yo-yo champions have been sharing the secrets of their success at a circus skills workshop in Crawley.

Arron Sparks, 2002 UK national champion and Sean Misslebrook, 2002 UK national two-handed champion, have just taken part in world championships in Florida.

Their demonstration was part of the Circus Festival at the Hawth Theatre.

The first recorded mention of yo-yos is said to date back to the ancient Greeks, who referred to the toys as an offering to the gods.

Traditional yo-yos consist of two joined discs with a groove between them containing a string, used to spin the toy according to weight and momentum.

But the champions were demonstrating new hi-tech versions at the theatre, said to use the latest in clutch, ball-bearing and axle combinations.

People are said to have played with yo-yos in ancient Greece

Latest versions generate higher spin speeds and are made out of aluminium.

Some have an automatic return axle which allows the automatic return of the yoyo to the hand.

Arron Sparks, who has been a yo-yo player for six years, said: "The yo-yos we have now spin for a really long time so you can do string tricks and progress a lot further than with original, traditional yo-yos.

"You can adjust them more easily and change the string - there are different levels and different kinds of tricks.

"It's not cheating. It helps you progress.

"Once you get to a certain level, you learn to do it yourself."

Visitors to the Hawth were being offered an insight into tricks ranging from beginner to advanced levels - including famous feats such as "walk the dog", "shoot the moon" and "Eiffel Tower".

The Circus Festival was held on Saturday and Sunday.