WITH a swift flick of the wrist, an array of sounds that can even mimic a nursery rhyme are recognised through the crack of a whip.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It may take some technique and a fair bit of co-ordination, but Tamworth whip-cracker Emily Etheridge reckons anyone can have a go.
However, it might take more than one go to crack to the beat of a tune.
“It takes a combination of flicking the wrist, co-ordination and technique. I’ve been able to crack a whip since I was young, but not like I can crack a whip now,” she said.
Miss Etheridge, 18, has only been cracking a whip professionally for about four months, but her dedication has prevailed, as she is off to compete in the RM Williams Australian whip-cracking championships at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Friday.
She is the first female from Tamworth to compete at the event and is looking forward to the challenge.
“Yeah, I’m excited. It will be interesting to see how I go.
“I will have to show 10 different tricks in the competition and then I will have a one-minute freestyle and finish with accuracy where, for example, I may have to hit foam cups off a pole with my whip.”
Her coach and partner Daniel Wicks has also had great success and is the current Australian whip-cracking champion.
He is coaching all of the competitors from the North West who are competing at the event – one in every division, ranging in age from as young as three to over 45.
Mr Wicks, 20, has been cracking a whip since the age of six and has some stiff competition, coming up against seven-times world record holder Adam Winrich from the USA.
