WHITWELL IS BACK
England Boxing stage Women’s Winter Box Cup
ENGLAND BOXING hosted their first Women’s Winter Box Cup, a tournament staged to create further competitive opportunities for female boxers.
After a long absence, former Elite champion Shona Whitwell returned to the sport and won the gold medal at the tournament. The St. Ives boxer beat Headland’s Sadie Thomas on a unanimous decision in their 60kgs final at the George H Carnall Centre in Urmston, Manchester on December 9.
“I was a bit nervous with having been out for so long, but all the hard work I’ve put in to come back has now paid off with winning this title,” said the 20-year-old. “To win the England Boxing Women’s Winter Box Cup is a big honour for me and it’s really good to win something nationally before I hopefully step up again to international level and try to get back on the GB squad.
“It’s been a great atmosphere to watch the other girls, but it’s just nice from a personal point of view get that first one back out of the way.”
Whitwell won the prize for Best Elite Boxer at the Box Cup. Aston’s Ileana Ingram was judged the Most Promising Elite boxer. She edged out Kerry Haley of Houghton District on a split decision in their welterweight final.
Empire School of Boxing’s
Savannah Stubley was the Best Youth boxer, after she beat Repton’s
Maisie Courtney on a split decision. Ellie Hibbert, of North West Region Women’s Warriors team, was named Most Promising Youth Boxer after defeating Cleary ABC’S Morgan Ansell, an England international and national champion, on a split decision.
“It’s been amazing to be here and have girls from everywhere in the country taking part,” Hibbert said. “We’ve been able to get to know each other as well as compete. I’ve loved it... Morgan is a really good boxer, who’s represented England, so I just went in wanting to perform well. To come out with the win was even better, and all the coaches at North West are over the moon.”
Headland Junior Courtney Scott stepped up to lightweight and was rewarded with the Best Junior Boxer belt after unanimously outpointing Kamile Poskauskyte.
Most Promising Junior Boxer was judged to be Salisbury’s Shassan Dutton, who saw off the challenge of Riverside BC’S Lola Hannant.
In other notable performances, Omarah Taylor bounced back
from defeat to Laura Stevens at the GB Championships earlier that week in Sheffield to defeat Tyne Tee & Wear Golden Girls team’s Hannah
Shields on a split decision at Elite A 69kgs.
Amy Andrew, who competed for New Zealand in the recent World championships, got straight back to action taking part in this Box Cup. In their 57kgs final Andrew took a split decision win over Latvia’s Amanda Millere.
RESULTS
Elite finals: Class A: 48: Marie Connan (Left Hook) outpd Miriam Zouhou (Stratford upon Avon) split. 51: Nicola Hopewell (Worksop Xbox Boxing Academy) outpd Monika Markowska (Jersey Leonis) split. 54: Nina Hughes (Chadwell St Mary) outpd Carly Skelly (North Mersey) split. 57: Group A: Amy Andrew (Haringey) outpd Amanda Millere [Boxing Club Riga] split. Group B: Amy Timlin (Cleary’s) outpd Lindsey Buczynskyj (Halliwell) unan. 60: Group A: Shona Whitwell (St Ives) outpd Sadie Thomas (Headland) unan. Group B: Simone Thompson (Lambton Street) outpd Jade Pearce (Wellington) unan. 64: Chelsey Heijnen (Aleco Boks Academier) outpd Oriance Lunghu (Haringey) unan. 69: Omarah Taylor (Firewalker) outpd Hannah Shield (Golden Girls) split. Class B: 48: Ella Harris (Miguel’s) outpd Amy Aspinall (Golden Girls) split. 51: Group A: Michelle Klich (Team Greaves) outpd Chiara Gregoris (Hic Sunt Leones) split. Group B: Nycole Hayes (Togher) outpd Clare Gillham (St Mary’s Chatham) split. 57: Paulina Biernat (Left Hook) outpd Zoe Hefford (Double Jab) split. 60: Jenifer Fernandez Romero (VS Boxing Club) outpd Michelle Cox (Women Warriors) split. 64: Charlie Wild (Aspirea outpd Jordan Barker (Lambton Street ABC) split. 69: Ileana Ingram (Aston) outpd Kerry Haley (Houghton District) split. Class C: 48: Jonita Jabbal (London Community Boxing) outpd Seema Aggarwal (Repton) split. 51: Cristina Planas (Left Hook) stpd Rachel Ovens (Worksop Xbox Boxing Academy). 57: Group A: Colleen Roach (Left Hook) stpd Abigail Wawman (St.gerard’s). Group B: Amie Clarke (Birtley) stpd Pamela King (Felbridge and East Grinstead). 60: Group A: Natalie Harris (Jersey Leonis) outpd Lou Vidor (Bright Star Boxing) unan. Group B: Katie Wawman (St.gerards) outpd Claire Purvis (Golden Girls) unan. 64: Victoria Azzaretti (Sweatbox) outpd Madison Birrell (Jersey Leonis) unan. 69: Bronwyn Browne (Wessex) outpd Billie Donaldson (Whitehaven & District) split. 81: Cindy Ngamba (Women Warriors) outpd Lauren Morris (Moulescoomb) unan.