Birtley’s three cheers as club’s young talent shines at Belle Vue

THE National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) Championships are under way, having been launched at area level.

The competition, which took a break in 2014 for the first time in 50 years, aims to find the best 15-18 year-old boxers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It has been known by various different names over the years but retains a strong reputation for uncovering new talent with previous winners including the likes of Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, and Joe Calzaghe.

The area finals were fought at the Belle Vue Centre in Hartlepool with top Tyne club Birtley producing winners in Lee Rodgers, Dan Toward and Owen Rees.

Josh Robson, Brandon Morrison and Natalia Johnson received byes through to the next round on November 11. Rodgers won his Class A area final against A McCitterick of Phil Thomas School of Boxing at 44kg, while Toward was a good Class B winner and Rees took his Class D final at 69kg against Jason Laws, who was forced to take a count in the last round.

Shaun Huddart won his semi-final against Pickering (Bishop Auckland) at 48kg as did Ali Shear against Atchison of Bedlington.

They will box their area finals on Thursday at Bilton Hall.

■■ BIRTLEY’S Pat and Luke McCormack (69/64kg) and Calum French (60kg) have been selected for the European Union Championships in Spain in a fortnight’s time.