Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Club show in Campbell River in 1980

Introduction
As I look back, this was the first time that I served as an official
in Campbell River, as I was still coaching at the Victoria Jaycees
boxing club, and had taken a year off of the board of the 
Victoria Athletic Association after three years.


This is the story that I wrote to cover the show from a
Victoria perspective:


THREE TRAVEL TO TRIPLE WIN: by Brian Zelley
(As reported in the weekly sport paper the "Sportcaster"
in the Wednesday, February 27, 1980 issue.)


"Three boxers from the Victoria Athletics travelled to 
Campbell River ... to take part in a 14 bout card staged
by the Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club on
February 23 rd. 


Dale Robinson defeated Carl Stafford of Campbell River  
in the 75-lb. junior division.  Cliff Ballendine edged
Kurt Lang of Port Kells by a 3 - 2 decision.  And,
Gary Robinson defeated a boxer from Kamloops in the
intermediate (youth) light-welterweight division.


Robinson opened up in the first round with stinging
jabs to the body and head.  Robinson outmoved his
opponent with sharp footwork and effectively slipped
or blocked most of his opponent;s punches and 
counterpunched with thumping right crosses and 
crunching left hooks.  Robinson continued his strong
offense in the second round and retired the Kamllops
boxer at the close of the second round.


Boxing officials included Bert Lowes from Vancouver,
Rick Brough and Brian Zelley from Victoria, and
Bill Donnelly, Peter Shulz, Leo O'Connell and 
Dorsey Clayton of Campbell River."


**** This was one of the initial club cards on Vancouver
Island for the start of the Eighties, buy during the decade
there would be plenty of action in club cards and tournaments
in Gold River, Campbell River, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith,
Duncan and Greater Victoria.  It would also, be the early stages
of Rick Brough's term  as the Vancouver Island Commissioner
who had replaced Victoria's Howard Curling.  The above report
was also a departure from most amateur boxing stories as it 
recorded the names of all the officials that is rarely done. ****