THE ARMY WAY
Jamie Ingleby provides an insight into the unique Army Boxing Team and their home in Aldershot Garrison
THE best way to view the Army team is as a big club within a small region (UKAFBA). Contrary to popular belief the Army doesn’t have an endless supply of open class boxers quite the opposite. Development boxers have to work very hard to make it to the ABT. Like any aspiring boxer they juggle training with work commitments which often involve overseas deployments to less than hospitable destinations.
The Army has a strong boxing tradition with many of its boxers receiving national and international unpaid honours. This includes Tony Davis (GB Coach), Chris Bessey MBE (six time ABA Champion) and Martin Stead to mention just a few.
At some point you may have come across the men and women of the ABT wearing the famous red strip, whether it’s on one of their annual fixtures or at one of the many shows and Box Cups they attend and enter. The Army offers many sporting opportunities, boxing however is unique as elite boxers are offered the opportunity to train full time from September through to July. This is not without conditions; all boxers on the team are expected to maintain their Army career development.
Based on this principle the team under head coach, Jason Browring has over the past few seasons undergone a transformation to mimic full time world class boxing programmes. The team is broken down into three squads to encompass elite, developing and novice boxers.
Entry to ABT differs depending on pedigree and level of boxing experience; open class boxers with plenty of experience would be invited to join. Boxers with less experience are encouraged to enter the Army Individual Championships to gain a place on the development squad.
The ABT holds twice weekly sparring nights Monday and Wednesday evenings and are always looking to build relationships with other clubs.
The Army Boxing Team has had a successful 2016-17 season; starting with the National Development Championships, they achieved one gold, five silvers and three bronze medals. There were 56kgs, 64kgs, 69kgs (female) & 91&kgs English Titles Series belts. At the Scottish championships there was one gold, one silver and one bronze, two golds at the Welsh championships, two golds, one silver and six bronze at the English championships, two golds, three silvers and one bronze at the GB championships and at the Haringey Box Cup four golds and one bronze.
The Army also retained the Combined Services trophy, beating the Navy in a straight shoot out in March. This competition also couples as the UKAFBA regional qualifiers for the England Boxing Elite championships.
There have has been many stand out performances from boxers on the ABT this season, Ashley Williams returned to the team after a two year break to win the Welsh 52kgs title and Haringey Box Cup 49kgs title. Fellow Welshman Kyle Morrison returned from injury to take his second Welsh title at 56kgs. Natty Ngwenya won gold in the GB Championships. Ryan Fillingham received a senior England vest. Chez and Alanna Nihell won respectively their third and fourth Haringey Box Cup titles and became the first husband and wife to do so. Steph Wroe retained her English national title after surgery for a career threatening injury and was awarded the Army Sports person of the year prize. Perhaps the most significant was Ebonie Jones’ first season as a senior. Already a highly decorated Junior and Youth boxer; she announced herself at senior level with 10 bouts 10 wins, resulting in her being crowned 54kgs England, GB and Haringey Box Cup champion.
At the end of June the boxers of the ABT returned to their units to continue their soldiering careers. Such is the success of the programme the Army has boxers training with GB, Wales, Scotland and the Philippines over the summer break.
‘THE ARMY HAS BOXERS TRAINING WITH GB, WALES, SCOTLAND AND THE PHILIPPINES OVER THE SUMMER’