Boxing
BARNARD Castle Amateur Boxing Club is concluding the the season on a high with a training trip to Spain.
Some of the club’s 40 members will head out to Totana this week to take part in a sparring camp.
It’s the first time since the Covid pandemic that the training week in the Murcia region has been held and this year both coaches, Craig Harrison and Richard Jackson, will accompany members.
Mr Harrison said: “It’s been a while since we’ve been and we’ve got a small party going to Spain for training.”
The club is going from strength to strength with more youngsters taking up the sport and up to 20 boxing competitively.
Most recently Daniel Jackson clinched gold at an inter-club event in Hull with a win over a game opponent from Bradford. Earlier in the month Daniel missed out on a place in the finals of a three-day Haringey competition at Alexandra Palace, in London, after defeat in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile at the same event, teenager George Peacock made it through to the final of his category beating a Las Vegas-based boxer ranked fifth in the USA.
Mr Harrison said: “George did well to beat the guy from the USA, but he lost in the finals on a split decision. We thought he did enough, but it was a close one.
“Altogether it was a successful end to the season for our small club.”
Five young boxers made their competitive debuts this season – Isma’il Sharif, 18, Tom Pringle, 14, Jason Chamberlain, 14, Harley Wilkinson, 11, and Toby Smith 14.
Mr Harrison added: “Next season we’ll be looking to get them more bout and we’ve got youngsters coming through as well who will be debuting.
“We’re not doing so badly for a small club in a rural town.
“We have to say a massive thanks though to both my partner Julie and Richard’s partner Faye. They do a lot behind the scenes when we get busy.
“We also have to say thank you to Michael Peacock who has supported us and helps keep things running.”
The club runs training sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, that cost £3 per session.
Juniors train between 6pm and 7pm and seniors between 7pm and 8pm.
Anyone interested in learning more about Barnard Castle Amateur Boxing Club or wants to learn how to box, can get in touch via their social media at www.facebook.com /Barnard-Castle-Amateur-Boxing-Club.
