Gorm blimey, what an arena
MACCLESFIELD Boys’ Boxing Club head coach Kevin Bradbury caught up with one of his former charges when he took a trip to the home of British Olympic boxing.
Nathan Gorman, who successfully represented Great Britain in the Youth World Championships in Bulgaria last year, boxed in MBBC colours for four years as a youngster.
He was also victorious last February in the National Youth Championships, taking the superheavyweight ABA title in Worsley.
And this week he welcomed Kevin to his current base, the ultraimpressive English Institute of Sport.
Nathan is now with South Cheshire ABC and is developing his abilities, sparring with the likes of Frazer Clark and Joe Joyce, who are currently the top two super-heavyweights in Britain.
What was clear to the coach is that Nathan’s future is in his own hands and he’s taking every opportunity to listen and take on board everything he is being taught.
He receives the best possible backing, with strength and conditioning coaches and nutritional advisers on tap.
Kevin said: “I was made to feel very welcome by Bob Dillon (Great Britain coach and lead podium potential coach) and he also took time to talk about Nathan and how he is progressing in his development.
“He spoke very highly of Nathan with regards his ability and personality which is good to hear.”
Kevin also got a chance to cast an envious eye around the world class facility that boasts seven rings – three of which are Olympic size – and numer- ous pieces of apparatus that are used to help hone members’ boxing skills.
“The facility was brilliant and certainly an eye opener,” added Kevin.
“It showed that with the right financial support and backing in order to be the best in the world you need the best facilities.
“Make no mistake, that is what these kids have over in Sheffield; it’s such an honour to have a what was a young impressionable kid that came through our door is now a young adult.
“At 18 years of age he’s made it to the podium potential squad – that’s fantastic and all of the coaches are really proud of Nathan and his achievements.”
It’s hoped Nathan will make a return to Macclesfiueld Boys’ Boxing Club next weekend for the club’s annual showcase.
Many top fighters have been at ringside for the events, and this year’s which is scheduled for February 6 at Wilmslow Leisure Centre, should be no different.
As a Great Britain podium boxer he is no longer allowed to compete at club level or he would have been lacing up the gloves to put on another display as he has done previously in recent years.
But there’ll be plenty of riung action to excite fight fans. To get your ticket visit the centre or call 07984 387419. BEST friends Holly Burke and Lottie Dennett could not be separated when it came to selection for the Cheshire under-13 team.
The King’s Junior Department duo will both proudly don the Cheshire Wheatsheaf in the forthcoming intercounty series.
Eleven-year-old Holly (left of picture) from Gawsworth, is a resolute, left-sided defender on whom opposition attacks invariably crumble, while Lottie, also 11, from Glossop, is an intelligent playmaker with incisive passing and tough tackling skills.
Holly said: “We are best friends in school and best friends on the pitch,” while Lottie added: “I’m just glad we both got selected because we would not have wanted the other to have been left out.”
Both girls have been key figures in King’s Junior Division’s unbeaten start to the season, in which they won all three of their under 11 fixtures.
They both said: “We would love to play for Great Britain at the Olympics, but really we just want to be as good as we possibly can be.”
Holly added: “My favourite player is Sarah Hopkin, who is our hockey coach at King’s and plays for Bowdon.”
Lottie added: “She’s brilliant and a great inspiration, I just hope I can be that good some day.”