CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENCE
Hannah Robinson is looking to retain her title in this year’s Elite championships
‘I’VE GOT MOMENTUM BEHIND ME AND I’VE FINALLY GOT THAT CHANCE’
BIRTLEY is producing great boxers all the time, what’s the secret to its success?
I don’t know what it is really. There is a lot of talented people in the gym. It’s very strict.
I’ve only been there two years now. It’s totally different. You can’t mess around or anything. It’s all about boxing competitively and getting results. Graeme Rutherford’s a brilliant coach. He’s very harsh. If he tells you you’re doing something right or wrong, you know he’s telling the truth. There’s no messing about. What got you started in the first place?
I’ve always been interested in all sorts of sports. I played football for Sunderland when I was a teenager. I did a bit of Thai boxing and taekwondo and just tried out boxing at a boxing gym. I loved the fitness side of it. At university I did a sports degree and once I graduated I had my first proper boxing fight and then decided right that’s it, I’m going to take it seriously. I haven’t looked back since. I’ve had a few nasty injuries along the way.
I’ve had two operations on my shoulder, operation on my elbow so it’s been on and off and I finally feel like now I’ve got a bit of momentum behind me, getting on GB and everything and I’ve finally got that chance to give it a good go. Was winning the ABAS last year key?
Definitely. My first fight in the ABAS was the first time I’d boxed for Birtley and the first time I’d come back from shoulder surgery. So even to get back boxing, then to win the ABAS was a bonus. If you get to the final of the ABAS they ask you to got to Sheffield for a [GB] assessment. There were 13 who turned up to the first assessment and three of us got on. It is competitive.
I didn’t put expectation on myself because I knew I’d just come back off injury, off surgery. I was just going to go in and give it my best shot, and it paid off, rather than expecting too much. Do you know when your first bout in these Elite championships will be?
It’ll be on April 6, which is the quarterfinals. I’m seeded number one so I go straight to the quarter-finals.
There are another couple of girls on GB at my weight but GB have chosen me in that competition this time. They’ve put me as the number one seed so I’m pleased about that. Who else are you looking out for at your weight?
I never take any fight for granted really. Everyone’s hungry and everyone wants to win it. It is a pathway on to the next level, international level. There’s girls that have been around for quite a while and are quite experienced. I expect Louise Orton, she’s from St. Mary’s, she’ll be in it, she’s quite an experienced girl. There’s a few others. I don’t really know until the draw but there’s always some good competition. I’m looking forward to it.