JACK SNAITH - BOXER
2013 Inductee
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
NANAIMO BOXERS fight in Bronze Gloves
NANAIMO BOXERS ROCK IN VERNON
By Brian Zelley
(original photo: from Boxing BC)
:
Trio of boxers bronzed in Vernon* The above link tells the story
if the Nanaimo boxers taking
part in the 2013 Bronze Gloves
held in Vernon, BC
*Three names mentioned in the
win department were:
Alex Wismiewski,
Ricky Orr, and
Alec Irvine.
Coach Barry Creswell was
quoted in the Nanaimo
Daily News article.
For Nanaimo folks, three March wins in the bronze gloves adds to the achievements.
It was in February when former Nanaimo boxers Mickey Griffin and Jack Snaith
were selected for the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame. Also, Gary Wood who
also trained briefly in Nanaimo. Also, co-founder of Nanaimo's Newcastle
Boxing Club George Nepper was selected in the builder category. George
also assisted in starting the Nanaimo Boxing Club.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame - 2013 nominees and 2010 to 2012 inductees
Nominees for 2013 include Jack Snaith, Mickey Griffin, George Nepper and Gary Wood
Saturday, December 15, 2012
STEVE VENUTI and the Eighties
LOOKING BACK TO 1979 and 1980: by brian zelley
From May 1979, there would be various changes in the Nanaimo boxing club.
As the club had finished it's first Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves and
tournament there would be a change in training locations from the downtown
to Harewood. There would also be some new faces that would add to the
history of boxing in Nanaimo over the years.
One name of interest for a few years was a boxer by the name of
STEVE VENUTI. As is usual for junior boxers, Venuti's first big test
came at the 1979 Bronze Gloves that had been won by various boxers
from Nanaimo over the years such as Mike Lazare and Ken Stant in
the Sixties for the old Newcastle Boxing club which served as a
launching pad for the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.
travel to Langley to participate with Venuti and Bohm winning titles
and opening the door for later open class competition. Venuti followed
his bronze gloves up in quick fashion with another one of those
In 1980, Venuti along with other club mates Ron Williams
and Lyle Jack would take part in the action at the 1980 Emerald Gloves.
In time, the name Steve Venuti would fade away from the black and white pages of
the local newspapers, but for a brief time in the late Seventies and early Eighties. He would be an excellent junior boxer.
Tragedy takes a twist in the wrong direction
* The tragic death of Steve Venuti as documented in
"Tailgate Talk" with the heading:
"Northern Vancouver Island Man Fatally Injured In Holberg".
Steve was crushed in a logging accident.
From May 1979, there would be various changes in the Nanaimo boxing club.
As the club had finished it's first Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves and
tournament there would be a change in training locations from the downtown
to Harewood. There would also be some new faces that would add to the
history of boxing in Nanaimo over the years.
One name of interest for a few years was a boxer by the name of
STEVE VENUTI. As is usual for junior boxers, Venuti's first big test
came at the 1979 Bronze Gloves that had been won by various boxers
from Nanaimo over the years such as Mike Lazare and Ken Stant in
the Sixties for the old Newcastle Boxing club which served as a
launching pad for the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.
travel to Langley to participate with Venuti and Bohm winning titles
and opening the door for later open class competition. Venuti followed
his bronze gloves up in quick fashion with another one of those
In 1980, Venuti along with other club mates Ron Williams
and Lyle Jack would take part in the action at the 1980 Emerald Gloves.
In time, the name Steve Venuti would fade away from the black and white pages of
the local newspapers, but for a brief time in the late Seventies and early Eighties. He would be an excellent junior boxer.
Tragedy takes a twist in the wrong direction
* The tragic death of Steve Venuti as documented in
"Tailgate Talk" with the heading:
"Northern Vancouver Island Man Fatally Injured In Holberg".
Steve was crushed in a logging accident.
Some other names in the eighties: PETE SEGIE..LYLE JACK..CODY REDFORD... ROMAN GRIMARD...
Sunday, July 15, 2012
FIRE and ICE in 1983 Nanaimo Boxing
DEEP FREEZE BOXING in NANAIMO: By Brian Zelley
*In the Spring 1983 issue of the Vancouver Island Amateur
Boxing News, I covered that card held at the Frank Crane Arena
on January 15, 1983.
(reprint of the story from 1983)
********************************************************************************
"...Due to extreme cold, many of the boxers could not get warmed-up
enough to put up a fair showing. Island boxers included
Paul Deluca, Scott Cessford, Rick McNally, Roman Grimard, Sheldon Samuels,
Gary Wood, Lyle Jack, Pete Seggie, Jim Fidler and Cody Redford. The officials
in attendance included Bert Lowes, Rick Brough, Bob Perry, Brian Zelley,
Joe Preston, Frank Bowers and John Jackson. Also, in attendance was
BCABA president Larry Carney and past president Fred Fuller."
********************************************************************************
*In the Spring 1983 issue of the Vancouver Island Amateur
Boxing News, I covered that card held at the Frank Crane Arena
on January 15, 1983.
(reprint of the story from 1983)
********************************************************************************
"...Due to extreme cold, many of the boxers could not get warmed-up
enough to put up a fair showing. Island boxers included
Paul Deluca, Scott Cessford, Rick McNally, Roman Grimard, Sheldon Samuels,
Gary Wood, Lyle Jack, Pete Seggie, Jim Fidler and Cody Redford. The officials
in attendance included Bert Lowes, Rick Brough, Bob Perry, Brian Zelley,
Joe Preston, Frank Bowers and John Jackson. Also, in attendance was
BCABA president Larry Carney and past president Fred Fuller."
********************************************************************************
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Alumni of the Newcastle and Nanaimo Boxing
SOME OF THE TRAINERS and COACHES:
* George Nepper, Harry Pollitt, Jerry Sorensen,
Rene Nepper, Roger Nepper, and Skimp Williams.
* Barry Creswell, Brian Zelley, Clark MacLellan,
Dan Wright, Joe Preston, and Mickey Griffin.
PAST and PRESENT MEMBERS OF
THE NANAIMO BOXING CLUB:
The Boxers: sample of some of the boxers
Alan MacLellan, Barry Creswell, Barry Neufield, Bob Pegues,
Bob Walsh, Brian Attig, Brian Zelley, Britton Gillette, Clark MacLellan,
Cody Redford, Dale Creswell, David Houliston, Dan Wright, Darren Lussier,
Don Preston, Dwayne Evenson, Fred Thornhill, Gary Wood, Fred Wicks, jr.
Jack Snaith, John Navrolli, John Ormandy, Kelly Gourlay, Kevin Jolly,
Lee Campbell, Lee Ranger, Lloyd Anderson, Lyle Jack, Mark Barr,
Mickey Griffin,Bob Jamison, Mike Murray, Mike Nagra, Norm Greenwell,
Pete Seggie, Rob Argyle, Robbie Wentland, Ron Williams, Stefan Melideo,
Stewart Springett, Takashi Sasagawa, Tim Cessford, Wade Marlin,
Wayne Morgan, Wayne Peace, Zach McKay.
Some recent names:
Alex Wisniewski, Josh Grossgardt, Justin McKay - Topley, Lucas Coburn,
Madi Hicks, Sarah Ali, Thomas Eyecheson, and Tony Tran.
Looking Beyond 2013
Mickey Griffin and Seth Gotro
The Old Guard - Sixties
sample of some of the names
Brian Zelley, Chris Balatti, Leo Rock,
Gilles, Jules, Leon and Roger Nepper
Ken Stant, Mike Lazare, Rick Johnson
Chris Balatti, Ted "Spider" Balatti, Ken Barker
Wayne Barnes, Kelly Barrows, Gerry Budzinski,
Joe Buxton, Murray Glover, Tony James, Rick Johnson,
Bob Lewis, Terry Lewis, Mike Lazare,
Larry McFadden, Keith McPherson, Ken Maughan,
Giles, Jules, Leon and Roger Nepper
Al Ranger, Leo Rock, Ken Stant, Gene Tait,
Rick Tate, Alan Windecker and Brian Zelley
ISLAND CHAMPIONS 1964 - Brian and Gilles
Brian also won "the most aggressive boxer" trophy
Newcastle and Nanaimo Boxing Clubs
faces through the years
The Here and Now - 2013
Barry Creswell, coach
Nanaimo Boxing Club
The Unsung and Forgotten Supporters
THE ROOTS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS
Over the decades, it has been the many supporters
that have helped in many ways that would
help in the success of the sport be in Nanaimo,
Prince George, Quesnel or Greater Vancouver
One of many unsung heroes - Dorothy Runacres.
May 1979: A Change of Location
It was to be the third location of the club.
(the following is a slightly revised story of the club
during the time of the change in location from
the Queen's Hotel to Harewood, but it would not be the last)
The story has published got the folks that were responsible
for being instrumental in starting the club all wrong.
As documeted in earlier reports, the four key persons
to get the club started were:
Brian Zelley, Dan Wright, George Nepper and John Ormandy.
A dozen boxers and only one coach were mentioned in the
story which misses some of the boxers between 1971 to 1979
exluding the twelve names listed some of the boxers were
Wayne Peace, Dan Wright, Brian Zelley,
Clark MacLellan, Fred Thornhill, Bob Jamison
Stewart Springett, Norm Greenwell, Lyle Jack,
Ron Williams, Steve Venuti, Wayne Marling
Dwayne Evenson and Kevin Jolly.
Dorothy Runacres
Barry Creswell, boxer
Videos
Vancouver Island boxing:
Bob Pegues
Nanaimo and Victoria
boxing images
bo
NANAIMO BOXING 1974
Nanaimo boxing coach and former boxer Clark MacLellan and
some of the boxers for the November 2, 1974 boxing card.
NANAIMO BOXING CLUB FIGHT CARDS
The above is just one of many fight cards held at the St. Peter's Hall
in Nanaimo during the Seventies. In the main event, Dan Wright
one of the co-founders of the Nanaimo Boxing Club was
representing the Victoria club against North West Eagles boxer
NEIL MELROSE. "Dynamite" Dan scored a convincing
victory. In 1973, Dan was a member of the NWE for a short time
before moving to Victoria. Later he would move back to Nanaimo.
IAN WEIR would step in to
replacer DON ORR to face
Nanaimo's CLARKE MCLELLAN.
Clarke would win the bout with
a decision. Clarke was also one of
the boxing coaches of the club and
worked with boxers such as
Mickey Griffin. *Previous match by
MacLellan was against Brian Zelley.
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