Ezra's Press Release

It's nice to write stuff for people who really appreciate it. Ezra Philips, a bike courier from Auckland who was on the road while I was still riding, is off to the Bike Messengers World Championships. Again. It's the fifth time he's scraped together funds and saved his pennies to make the trip, and I'm glad he asked me to put together and send out a press release for him.

Ezra Philips and his weapon of choice

PRESS RELEASE JULY 4, 2011.

PHILLIPS TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND FOR FIFTH TIME AT CYCLE MESSENGER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN POLAND

 

Ezra Phillips will represent New Zealand for a fifth time at the Cycle Messenger World Championships (CMWC), which begins in Warsaw, Poland on July 28.

 

The 29-year-old from Tauranga will be one of five New Zealanders competing against 2000 messengers from around the world in various disciplines during the five-day event. Phillips is aiming for a podium position in the sprint races, competitions that involve short sharp efforts usually from a standing start. 

He, and the other Kiwis - Angus Edmond, Jenna Makgill, Gary-Max Hampton and Leon Skiba - will also take part in the Main Race, a competition that simulates daily bicycle courier life. Riders must pick up and deliver packages to different locations around a closed circuit as fast as possible.

“Just qualifying for the finals is tough,” says Phillips, “but I have been training hard and am confident I will put in a good show.”

“The CMWC are very competitive but are also about celebrating worldwide messenger culture and sharing a common passion.”

Phillips works for City Dox Couriers in Auckland and has been a bicycle messenger for eight years, during which time he has clocked up a total of 120,000km.

“I have been riding my bike my whole life - my girlfriend claims to have seen me pedalling in my sleep!”

Phillips first competed at the CMWC in 2006 in Sydney, Australia, but achieved his best results the following year in Dublin, Ireland when he won a CBD race, was second in the uphill sprints and came eighth in a 1km drag race.

In 2008, in Toronto, Canada, Phillips won a side event race and in 2009 in Tokyo, Japan, he reached the semi-finals of the sprint competition. Phillips is well known on the growing local street racing and fixed gear scene, regularly scoring top three positions.

“My trips to CMWCs are all self-funded with help from my sponsors, Cathay Pacific, Customs Solutions and Pane & Vino restaurant.”

The 19th annual Cycle Messengers World Championships begin on July 28, 2011 in Warsaw, Poland. More information can be found at www.warsawcarkillers.org.