Six of the best head to Ireland for boxing glory
N. WALES CLUB RETURNS TO SCENE OF 2019 TWO-GOLD TRIUMPH
SIX young boxers from North Wales will travel to Ireland in search of medals later this month, as their club rebounds from the coronavirus lockdown.
Tucked away behind the crown court in Caernarfon is the Caernarfon Amateur Boxing Club (ABC), set up 1993 by Ian Owen.
Like most sports clubs, it has faced a turbulent time in recent years with Covid affecting the day-to-day running of the group.
However, this hasn’t stopped them, with six young members from the local area all about to take part in an international tournament in Monkstown, Ireland, from June 23-26.
Ian still leads the club, assisted by several volunteer coaches and assistants who give their time to offer these kids a chance to learn to box.
Delme Davies, who recently picked up his own coaching qualifications, started coming to the club when his twin sons Meilir and Morgan joined two and a half years ago.
The twins are now among the six boys set to take part in upcoming tournament.
Of Ian, Delme said: “His passion is the boxing – he knows what he’s doing and he does a good job.
“We’re all here to do it for the lads, to produce real quality.”
The club, which offers training for range of age groups from around the area, has been a lifeline for many youngsters in the area.
Delme added: “We’re here so those kids have a chance; there’s not many opportunities like this round here.”
Peblig ward councillor Dewi Jones spoke about the club, saying: “The volunteers at the club do fantastic work and are a big asset to the community.
“It’s really important that young people are given as many different experiences as possible when growing up.
“It’s great to see our young people being able to take part in sporting events like this”.
The key event the club is raising funds towards is for the upcoming tournament in Ireland.
The club last attended the tournament in 2019, when they took home two gold medals.
This year, six boys aged 12 to 15 are gunning for more success.
“The club is really good for all the lads; it helps bring them out of their shell” Delme added.
Among the boxers who have been trained at the club are former Welsh champion David
Florence from Tregarth and 17-year-old Ryan Owen of Penygroes, who spent five years as Welsh champion.
Now, Caernarfon ABC is hoping to get back to this level of success by following up the upcoming Irish tournament with appearanced in Manchester and Birmingham.
Meilir and Morgan are also beginning to make a name for themselves. The story of twin boxers is already sweeping across the North Wales scene.
The other boys – Guto Owen, 15, Morgan Llwyd, 13, Rhys Sykes, 13, and Theo Philips, 12 – are also all ready to go, if their clear skill in the gym’s ring is anything to go by.
Clothing, food and other supplies having already been donated to help the lads on their way to Ireland, but Caernarfon ABC says it would still welcome any assistance or donations towards the adventure.