THE JACK SNAITH STORY: by Brian W. Zelley
This story has been authorized by Jack Snaith, and prepared with the help of Jack
and other.
(Ten of the many that shared parts of the story along the way *** Mickey Griffin, Roy Burnett,
Frankie Scott, Bert Lowes, Lindy Lindmoser, Bob Pegues, Dave Wylie,
Freddy Fuller, Brian Zelley and Dan Wright_/
Introduction:
Although it is not the usual think to do to start a person's story with a lead of another
person. But, out of respect to one of the first to open the door to the world of
boxing for JACK SNAITH it is important to recognize and remember ROY BURNELL,
THE BEGINNING OF THE BOXING JOURNEY:
Introduction to boxing by Roy that would lead to a visit with the
Firefighters and in the words of Jack, the welcome message
THOSE EARLY DAYS AT VANCOUVER'S FIREFIGHTERS:
*With the welcome mat placed before young Jack there was no place
to run and hide. With those two words, Jack was hooked, and his
words tell part of that early experience:
would be in the gym
when the wide eyed
kid named Jack came
to be a boxer.
and who could guess
how far he would
travel on his boxing
journey along the
boxing highway
with all the twists
and turns, upsets,
ptfalls and setbacks.
*** Ron Whalley ******* Fred Fuller ******* Bert Lowes ***
Jack Snaith, like many of us would be proud of his journey with the great Firefighters,but many of us would not make the club a permanent home, and for Jack Snaith the early Seventies would bring a new chapter to his never ending boxing story
THE LIFE and TIMES at the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB
The Nanaimo Boxing Club was founded in 1971 and throughout
the Seventies would become one of the best boxing clubs due in part
to the achievements of boxer Jack Snaith who would become the first
to win a National boxing title.
Jack's primary coach at the Nanaimo Boxing Club
and based on Jack's comments, Mickey Griffin was one of his top
sparring partners, club mates and travel partner in some of their
jont trips.
Jack's first moments with the Nanaimo Boxing Club
Jack's primary coach at the Nanaimo Boxing Club
and based on Jack's comments, Mickey Griffin was one of his top
sparring partners, club mates and travel partner in some of their
jont trips.
Jack's first moments with the Nanaimo Boxing Club
*Two old familiar faces from the Firefighters would be
Brian Zelley and Dan Wright, but Jack would meet with
many others and would feel the connection and to feel the
new welcome mat of his acceptance.
many others and would feel the connection and to feel the
new welcome mat of his acceptance.
Some of the boxers
that trained in Nanaimo
during Seventies:
Allen MacLellan Barry Creswell
Bob Pegues Brian Zelley
Dan Wright Darren Lussier
Jack Snaith Kevin Maughan,
Mickey Griffin, and others.
Mickey Griffin, and others.
Looking back, Jack has so many great memories of his time in Nanaimo.
Jack talks of his training on the road with his father driving a truck while
he ran along the road and the acceptance they he found from the citizens.
And then it was his turn to help the younger boxers such as Darcy Ormandy,
Darren Lussier and others as described in Jack's words:
CLARK MACLELLAN, MICKEY GRIFFIN
and some of the youngsters of
Nanaimo Boxing Club
For Jack Snaith, Nanaimo will always be home
and he came to one realization when he thought
about why he helped all the young ones that came after him.
And, he thought back to the Firefighters and now he knew
why so many boxers even the ones training for
important bouts took the time to show him the way.
BEYOND NANAIMO:
The first step beyond Nanaimo would be the Richmond Boxing club
with coach Jeff Yule. It was while with the Richmond club that
Jack would return to Nanaimo to compete against former
club mate Mickey Griffin
in what would be a super fight
that likely was picked as the best fight of the show, it is
also the match that turned Mickey Griffin into a star for the
Nanaimo fans.
The Nanaimo experience just like Vancouver and other places
highlights the support outside of the ring which proved to be
an important element in the stages of the boxing journey.
The Nanaimo experience just like Vancouver and other places
highlights the support outside of the ring which proved to be
an important element in the stages of the boxing journey.
THE WILLIAMS LAKE EXPERIENCE
The clock ticks and Jack Snaith is on the move to a new
location which would take him to the Williams Lake region
where Leif Albrechtsen was the primary coach.
For his story, through the words of Jack:
\
The clock ticks and Jack Snaith is on the move to a new
location which would take him to the Williams Lake region
where Leif Albrechtsen was the primary coach.
For his story, through the words of Jack:
\ SOUTH OF THE BORDER
During Jack's never ending boxing journey, he would spend some
time in the United States. This is a story about his last big trip in
the USA a few years before returning to Vancouver Island.
Jack would close his USA story that it is a great memory
that he will never forget, and thanks the Whinston family
for opening their home and their hearts to a kid from
Canada and the 1973 Canadian champion forever.
BACK TO VANCOUVER ISLAND: THE EIGHTIES:
THE COMOX BOXING CLUB STORY
Looking back to Jack's Comox Boxing club days was an
interesting moment in time. It was a boom period for
amateur boxing on Vancouver Island and Jack's
involvement with Lloyd Anderson added more sparkle
to the game. Jack would travel from Campbell River to
Nanimo and Victoria from the Comox region to bring
their boxers to club shows and tournaments. Those boxers,
Jack and Lloyd would be documented in the pages of the
BC Amateur boxing News and in various newspapers.
One of those boxing shows took place on April 13, 1985
in Nanaimo which was a big part of Jack's life. In fact
the 1985 show was somewhat of a revival as the early
eighties amateur boxing activity in Nanaimo was at
an all time low level between 1971 and 1985. I remember
that show well ad I refereed the first bout which was a
bantamweight bout between Mark Hartell and
Rick Davidson. Courtenay/Comox boxers engage in the
ten bout show included promising Paul Dodd, Some other
nameses on the show would include some old favourites
such as Alan Brown and Scott Cessford, When we look at
the officials some of the names from Jack's past are on the
list including Bert Lowes, Brian Zelley and Dan Wright.
Some other names that were part of Jack's past would
include Varro along with the other
Nanaimo coach Joe Preston.
ALBERTA BOUND and THE NEW BEGINNING:
Dan Higgins touches on some of the contributions Jack has made to
help the young boxers train for tournaments and national action.
But, for a number of years, he would just observe the action before
taking another small step to continue the journey. In Jack's words:
NOMINATION FOR THE BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME
*Jack Snaith is one of 30 nominees for the 2013 BCABHOF.
GOLDEN MEMORIES and SILVER MOMENTS:
My Golden Memories of Jack Snaith by brian zelley
I have known Jack since his early days in the Firefighters
and the Nanaimo Boxing Club and am proud of his achievements.
It was many years later that I would write a tribute to Jack in the
February 1985 issue of the BC Amateur Boxing News:
"WELCOME BACK JACK" - February 1985
Jack Snaith has returned to boxing as a boxing coach.
He and Lloyd Anderson are coaching at a newly formed
club in Comox.
"Jack is best remembered for his performances in 1973 while
a member of the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB. However, Snaith
started his boxing in Vancouver and was a member of the
FIREFIGHTERS BOXING CLUB. After moving to Nanaimo, Jack
would join the Nanaimo Boxing club started by Dan Wright and
Brian Zelley in the summer of 1971. For Jack Snaith, the
establishment of the light-flyweight division was to be an opportunity
and a challenge. Jack entered the 106 lb. division in the 1973 BC
Golden Gloves and won.
The next step on the trail was to be the Western Canadian Amateur
Boxing Championships at Winnipeg and Jack won over Randy Smith
of Saskatchewan. Other champions from BC were Chris Ius,
Dale Anderson, Dennis Bercier, Mike Frank, Bill Gariepy and Jack Meda.
Then came the Canadian championship at Charlottetown. The coach of
the team was Harold Mann..."
William "Royal City Red" Zelley, a top Snaith supporter
I remember well Bill's
praise for Jack Snaith
and later Mickey Griffin
of the Nanaimo Boxing
Club back in the Seventies.
I believe Bill first saw
young Jack snaith at
the Firefighters club
in Vancouver.
It was May of 1979, and the Nanaimo Boxing Club
had risen to what could be considered it's peak
period. But, after almost eight years of operation
a small band of boxers would be recognized
for their achievents including Jack and Mickey.\
THE CAST AND CHARACTERS IN THE NEVER ENDING
JACK SNAITN BOXING JOURNEY and STORY:
Roy Burnell - Bert Lowes - Pat West - Lindy Lindmoser
Frankie Scott - Freddy Fuller - Dave Wylie - Gordie Lawson -
Brian Zelley - Dan Wright - Nicky McDondald - John Gamble -
Steve Tohill - Fred Fuller - Ron Whalley - Les & Helen Varro
Bill "Royal City Red" Zelley - Clark MacLellan - Darcy Ormandy
Darren Lussier - Bob Pegues - Jeff Yule - Joe McCaffrey - David Ius -
Leif Albrechtsen - Lloyd Anderson - Whinston family - Paul Dodd
Gary Wood - Monty Brown - Alan Brown - Tim Cessford
Dan Higgins - Stan Insko - Rick Albrechtsen,
**These are just some of the many others that were there over
the many years that Jack was involved in boxing as a boxer or
a trainer/coach.
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH by THE DIAMOND BOY
Just when you think the story is over, along comes that
knockout punch that adds new meaning into the storu.
a big thank you to RICK ALBRECHTSEN for a KO punch
in the Jack Snaith story.
THE FINAL WORD: Jack Snaith inductee BCABHoF.
* Well by now it is obvious, Jack made it from nominee to
inductee.
Flashes of the many inductees:
and the Nanaimo Boxing Club and am proud of his achievements.
It was many years later that I would write a tribute to Jack in the
February 1985 issue of the BC Amateur Boxing News:
"WELCOME BACK JACK" - February 1985
Jack Snaith has returned to boxing as a boxing coach.
He and Lloyd Anderson are coaching at a newly formed
club in Comox.
"Jack is best remembered for his performances in 1973 while
a member of the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB. However, Snaith
started his boxing in Vancouver and was a member of the
FIREFIGHTERS BOXING CLUB. After moving to Nanaimo, Jack
would join the Nanaimo Boxing club started by Dan Wright and
Brian Zelley in the summer of 1971. For Jack Snaith, the
establishment of the light-flyweight division was to be an opportunity
and a challenge. Jack entered the 106 lb. division in the 1973 BC
Golden Gloves and won.
The next step on the trail was to be the Western Canadian Amateur
Boxing Championships at Winnipeg and Jack won over Randy Smith
of Saskatchewan. Other champions from BC were Chris Ius,
Dale Anderson, Dennis Bercier, Mike Frank, Bill Gariepy and Jack Meda.
Then came the Canadian championship at Charlottetown. The coach of
the team was Harold Mann..."
William "Royal City Red" Zelley, a top Snaith supporter
praise for Jack Snaith
and later Mickey Griffin
of the Nanaimo Boxing
Club back in the Seventies.
I believe Bill first saw
young Jack snaith at
the Firefighters club
in Vancouver.
It was May of 1979, and the Nanaimo Boxing Club
had risen to what could be considered it's peak
period. But, after almost eight years of operation
a small band of boxers would be recognized
for their achievents including Jack and Mickey.\
THE CAST AND CHARACTERS IN THE NEVER ENDING
JACK SNAITN BOXING JOURNEY and STORY:
Roy Burnell - Bert Lowes - Pat West - Lindy Lindmoser
Frankie Scott - Freddy Fuller - Dave Wylie - Gordie Lawson -
Brian Zelley - Dan Wright - Nicky McDondald - John Gamble -
Steve Tohill - Fred Fuller - Ron Whalley - Les & Helen Varro
Bill "Royal City Red" Zelley - Clark MacLellan - Darcy Ormandy
Darren Lussier - Bob Pegues - Jeff Yule - Joe McCaffrey - David Ius -
Leif Albrechtsen - Lloyd Anderson - Whinston family - Paul Dodd
Gary Wood - Monty Brown - Alan Brown - Tim Cessford
Dan Higgins - Stan Insko - Rick Albrechtsen,
**These are just some of the many others that were there over
the many years that Jack was involved in boxing as a boxer or
a trainer/coach.
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH by THE DIAMOND BOY
Just when you think the story is over, along comes that
knockout punch that adds new meaning into the storu.
a big thank you to RICK ALBRECHTSEN for a KO punch
in the Jack Snaith story.
THE FINAL WORD: Jack Snaith inductee BCABHoF.
* Well by now it is obvious, Jack made it from nominee to
inductee.
Flashes of the many inductees:
