Page 15
Call Sign July 2011
NUDE CYCLISTS HIT LONDON!
Many Dial-a-Cab drivers working on the
Saturday afternoon of June 11 and floating
around the west end, would have felt a slight
chill in the air. The recent warm weather had
mass drive towards town at around 4.20 that
afternoon when he coolly put out the message
cooled and a few drivers had even put their
as you do lots of nude cyclists at Trafalgar
jackets on.
Square!
It was the day after Snowdonia in Wales had
Ian Gray (C61) was next when he pro-
taken after its name and provided tourists with
claimed on the DaC terminal that it was slow-
a blizzard! Bristol had hailstones and London
going around the naked two-wheelers,
had heavy showers. Nope, it wasn't the best
although he failed to mention that everyone
day to get your kit off especially whilst rid-
else was travelling at normal speeds and pass-
ing your bike around London!
ing him!
But that's what around 700 cyclists did from
They were followed minutes later by Call
3pm that day when they left Hyde Park as part
Sign photographer Alan Green (E52). He cir-
of the London naked bike ride to raise aware-
cled around the nude cyclists three times in
ness of the need for more tolerance of bicycles
order to get a close-up shot. It was just as he
on the City's roads, many carrying slogans
was beginning his fourth circuit that he remem-
expounding Real Rights for Bikes.
bered he hadn't got his camera with him!
The event was part of the World Naked
And it was the same day that hundreds of
Bike Ride, which sees many thousands of
partially clad ladies took part in the first slut-
naked cyclists riding all over the world. So far
walk at Hyde Park Corner a somewhat bet-
as the UK was concerned, they were also in
ter cause than the bikers. All in all, just anoth-
Even the chilly weather couldn't stop
Brighton, Manchester, York and Southampton.
er day in London...
them!
It was Ian Thomson (A14) who started the
For those new to Dial-a-Cab, Call Sign had been following the boxing progress of Sam
Bezzina - son of Dial-a-Cab driver Dean Bezzina (M10) - who has already won a silver medal
fighting for England...
Sam back in winning ways
Sam (left) is presented with best boxer of the evening by
Billy Morgan
There was a good victory for Sam Bezzina on West Ham Boxing Club's home
show, winning by unanimous decision against Anthony Ward, a tough oppo-
nent from the local Islington BC. To make things even harder for himself, Sam
had to move from his usual 57kg up to 60kg to take the fight.
With Ward being much bigger than Sam, the first round saw Sam boxing
on the back foot drawing Ward in while slipping his shots and counter punch-
ing well. He was also finding his range with the jab and scoring effectively.
The second round was very similar with Sam having to use his footwork
and speed to keep out the way of Ward's lunging assaults, as his opponent
rushed in trying to unload his own shots. Sam was scoring well with a solid
jab to keep his opponent at bay. As the bell sounded for the end of the sec-
ond, Sam returned to his corner feeling sure that he was well ahead but
knowing that a big finale would ensure that victory.
The bell went for the third and final round. Ward, sensing he was behind
rushed in once more but came off second best as Sam works well on the
inside, alternating his shots from body to head. Sam slipped out and finished
the round with a great display of boxing at range with superior head move-
ment. At the end, Sam took a unanimous decision and was rewarded for his
efforts by being announced as `best home boxer of the evening' and present-
ed with his trophy from former West Ham amateur boxer and now undefeat-
ed Pro, Billy Morgan.
It was a great win for Sam. His last outing saw him eliminated from the
Junior ABA Championships in a very close bout losing on a majority to
Repton's 57kg National Champion Romario Wallace.
Approaching the end of the boxing season, Sam can look back at another
successful year for the West Ham Boxing Club with 6 National Schoolboy
Champions, 3 National Junior ABA Champions and 1 Senior ABA Finalist with
the results of several Tri Nation and European bouts still to be decided...
