Sep
4
Posted by yogi on Thu, 4 September, 2008 - 18:37
The Markus "Fur" Cook Award
more info from IFBMA
What is the MCA???
The MCA for services to the International Messenger Community is not a prize for winning a race. At the time the Award was conceived, CMWC was beginning to be more about the racing than the happening. I [Buffalo Bill] wanted to re-establish the spirit of the championships, to restate the reason that we all come to this event every year. The MCA is a reflection of the axiom that everyone who comes to a CMWC is a winner, whether they race or not.
Markus himself was very much in love with the CMWC, and in many ways he was the unlikeliest bike racer imaginable. He was several other things, of course. Editor of Mercury Rising messenger zine, unofficial spokesperson of the SFBMA, leader of L Sid, and a friend to all. The enthusiasm of Markus brought CMWC and the international messenger community to San Francisco, and it saddens many people to this day that he did not live to see it.
This award is for people that inspire and empower the wider messenger community, that put all of us before themselves.
yogi
Sun, 19 October, 2008 - 22:40
The International Federation of Bicycle Messenger Associations (IFBMA) is pleased to announce that Copenhagen messenger Martin “Banana” Larsen has been awarded the 2008 Markus Cook Award. The Cook Award is presented annually to “to the courier who inspires and empowers the wider messenger community, the messenger that puts all of us before themselves.”
Martin is a veteran messenger who as IFBMA president, Andy Duncan, notes “is “known for tireless hard work, organizing messenger races and pulling people together.” Messenger championships all over the world have benefited from his sacrifice and dedication. From Copenhagen, Oslo and New York City to Sydney, Dublin and Toronto, Martin’s influence is not only upon the Championships but also the messenger community.
Through his leadership in the IFBMA, the Copenhagen Bike Messengers Association and the Toronto Bike Messenger Association, Martin has fought to improve living and working conditions for all messengers.
At much personal and financial sacrifice, he spent much of the past year in Toronto helping to organize the 2008 Cycle Messenger World Championships. His experience, his diligent efforts and most of all his example were a gift to the city, its cycling community and its messengers. Before Martin left six months later he laid the ground work to unite the struggling community and rebuild the city’s Bike Messenger Association.
2006 Markus Cooke winner, Kevin “Squid” Bolger lauds Martin’s work at the 2002 CMWC. “I was blown away with dedication and attention to detail that he exhibited in producing the main event. I asked him to show me how it worked and he gave me his completed notes and instructions in a leather binder.” He also “helped enormously with the main event. His ideas and execution were invaluable.”
Squid echoes the entire messenger community when he says “I am happy and proud to be a part of awarding the Markus Cook Award to Martin 'Banana' Larsen!!
The award was presented to Martin in Copenhagen Saturday during a ceremony at the Track Bike Shop. Thanks to Jumbo for arranging everything and thanks to Andy Zalan for arranging the transportation of the award.
Punch it chewy
390Love
Thu, 11 September, 2008 - 08:52
Lets nominate cranky Chris. He has taken so many young and wayward messengers "under his wing". Would there even be a Sydney crew without him.
There is no theory of evolution, just a list of animals 390Love allows to live.
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