The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today announced that Byron Cobb was declared World Champion of the 52nd Muni Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, held today in Union Square. The contest had two divisions, one for cable car Grips and Conductors and another for local community representatives.
The winners in the division for cable car crew members were: First Place, Byron Cobb; Second Place, Trini Whittaker; and Third Place, Leonard Oats. Today’s win was the sixth for Cobb, who won after a 30 second “ring off” with Whittaker to break a tie for second and first.
The amateur bell-ringers competed on behalf of the charity of their choice. The winners in the amateur charity division were: First Place, Scotty Bastable of CBS; a tie for Second Place: Lil’ Miss Hot Mess, a San Francisco celebrity and nationwide performer and Brandon Mudd from Comcast Spotlight; and Third Place, Shaaron Resendiz of La Opinion de la Bahia. Their prizes will be donated to the following charities: AIDS Research Institute at UCSF, Causa Justa :: Just Cause, United Way and San Mateo County Sheriff’s Youth Program Fund.
For both portions of the contest, the winners received a trophy and cash prizes provided by Presenting Sponsor Ghirardelli Chocolates. Other prizes included hotel stays, dinners and other gift certificates donated by Union Square merchants and SF Travel.
The Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is presented by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and the SFMTA. The event is sponsored by the merchants of the Union Square Business Improvement District, San Francisco Recreation and Park, and San Francisco Travel.