Boxing club is down but not out

Oct 19 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal

VOLUNTEERS are working round the clock to help a fire-hit boxing club get up off the canvas following a potentially knockout blow.

Officials and young fighters at the Newbiggin Boxing Club in Northumberland are cleaning up and re-painting their training room where thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused in a suspected arson attack earlier this week.

At the same time, Wansbeck Council has given the club free use of facilities at the village’s sports and community centre while the damage is being put right.

Flames from a parked car that was set on fire at the rear of the club’s building in Front Street on Tuesday morning caused a ground floor window to collapse and destroyed the training ring, as well as equipment such as gloves, pads and headgear.

The incident came at the worst possible time, with the club desperate to keep their young fighters in trim for some important bouts just around the corner.

Sixteen-year-old England number one Carly Wealleans is due to contest the European junior women’s championships in Germany in the middle of November, while Matty Wall, 16, is in the England squad. Officials and young boxers are giving up their spare time to clear up the damage and put the training room back in order, and hope to be back in business after the weekend. Yesterday Ray Scott, who runs the club, thanked the council for making the local sports centre available.

“We were delighted to accept the offer because we need to keep our boxers in trim with such important fights coming up very quickly for them. Everyone is giving up as much time as they can spare to clean the premises up to allow us to get back into full training as quickly as possible.

“We have a show due to be held at the sports centre on Friday, November 2, with 12 of our boxers lined up to fight on the bill. So it was vital to ensure they all kept up their fitness levels without any breaks in their training.”

Former world champion Glenn McCrory was the first person on the telephone to offer whatever help he could give to get the club back on its feet. Northumbria Police are investigating the blaze and have asked anyone with information to contact them on 08456 043043.

Coun Ken Parry, Wansbeck’s cabinet member for leisure, said: “This is a great club with some terrific young fighters, and we were only too pleased to offer our facilities to ensure they didn’t have any breaks in their training schedules.”

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Carly takes it all on the chin

TEENAGE fighter Carly Wealleans has shown she is no pushover.

The 16-year-old has landed a place in the European Junior Women’s Boxing Championships in Baden Baden, Germany next month.

And as the only female fighter at Newbiggin Boxing Club, her intense training has seen her a winner several times in the ring.

Carly, a Btec student in sports and exercise at Northumberland College, said: “I’m pleased I’m going because it’s only my first season at the club.

“I like the training and turning up to a fight and winning.

“More women are coming into boxing all the time but the boys just see you as one them.

“Since I’m the only girl at the club, I have to fight with the boys, but some of them don’t like me beating them.”

Coach Paul Scott said: “Carly is 100% dedicated to boxing.

“She started out for the training and decided that she liked it and carried on into the competition side.

“Carly is strong and one of the most dedicated trainers in the gym.

“She can equal or surpass some of the lads.”