BOXING coaches say they are “immensely proud” of all their members after a busy season of bouts has seen a number of young fighters win medals and belts.
Barnard Castle Amateur Boxing Club, which is based at Stainton Grove, has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has been busy training an influx of young boxers keen to learn the craft.
This year there have been a number of successes for the club with junior members picking up a number of wins. George Peacock, 14, managed to retain his Tyne Tees and Wear Under 46 kg title.
Dan Jackson, 16, and Sinead Fielden, 15, won their Lonsdale belts during a three day Box Cup event at Penrith with Brianna Fielden just missing out on hers.
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Burn did the club proud when she travelled to East Yorkshire last month and picked up a gold award during the Hull Box Cup.
Nathan Forrest also did well earlier in the season winning the 67kg Tyne, Tees and Wear Development Belt though was not able to retain it a month later in another bout.
The club, which formed seven years ago, has about 30 active members, many of whom are juniors.
Coaches Craig Harrison and Richard Jackson run training sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Juniors train between 6pm and 7pm with seniors taking to the gym between 7pm and 8pm.
Mr Harrison said although most clubs have an off-period between fighting seasons they are too busy training to shut for any length of time.
He added: “The bouts will start again in September but over the summer we’re going to be busy getting some of the younger members through their medicals and ready for the new season.
“Every season we say we are going to shut, but we get so many coming through it never really happens.”
However the club will be closed this week (July 15) as Mr Harrison along with four other members have been invited to take part in a week-long sparring event in Spain at the invitation of an ex-professional boxer, Sam Stone.
Mr Harrison is heading to Mercia in southern Spain with young fighters George Peacock, Dan Jackson, Nathan Forrest and senior member Michael Peacock.
He added: “I suppose we’re pioneering this trip to see if we can add it to the calendar for everyone next year as a treat.”
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