Hard work pays off as Sanctus duo celebrate Yorkshire titles
Head coach Shane Thewlis has expressed his pride after two fighters from Sanctus Fitness and Boxing, in Brighouse, clinched Yorkshire titles.
Sixteen-year-old Dylan Daly won in Leeds to claim the 57kg Yorkshire belt for the second time while stablemate Emily Aked became Yorkshire champion in the England Boxing national amateur competition following a second-round stoppage in the regional finals.
In-form Aked has since gone on to win bronze at elite level in the all-England amateurs, held at Barnsley Metrodome.
Thewlis said: “I could not be prouder of the pair. Dylan has had to overcome many hurdles this season and his perseverance is a testament to his character, making him a role model.
"This is why he was chosen as boxing team captain this season.”
He added: “Emily, who is both a boxer and boxing coach, is an inspiration to the younger girls she coaches.
“She’s at home at elite level and previously also won gold medals in the 2023 National DevelopmentChampionsand the Female Winter Box Cup.
"We’re only in our second season as a boxing club, so it’s exciting to see hard work paying off.”
Aked said: “My husband and daughter agree with me that we’ve a second family at Sanctus.
"Shane and Kathryn help everyone feel part of the most supportive community possible.
"I enjoy coaching girls and women because whether the motive is fitness or competition, it’s great to see women in boxing.
"I’m looking forward to a big future with Sanctus as I embark on England Boxing’s Women’s Coaching Development
Programme.”
Daly said: “Winning the belt is an incredible achievement for me, I’m proud to represent Sanctus for the Yorkshire title.
"It is the culmination of all the hard work, dedication and training that I’ve put in during extensive cardio sessions and gruelling spars.
"The support from my friends, family, and coaches means the world to me. With determination and perseverance, anything is possible.
"I’m deeply grateful to everyone at Team Sanctus.”
Sanctus Fitness and Boxing opened in June 2021 and is an England Boxing affiliated club offering introductory classes for children from the age of five.
Thewlis said: “We’ve an active competitive boxing team.
We offer strength and conditioning classes and adult boxing sessions with an average of 20 per class.
“We work with 14 Calderdale and Bradford schools delivering Box Champions, a social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) programme using boxing and mentoring to help young people and we’ve worked with 725 young people through private referrals from schools, mental health practitioners and social services through funding from BBC Children in Need and the National Lottery Million Hours scheme.”
For more information on joining Sanctus, email the club at sanctusfitnessandboxing@gmail.com, visit the website at www.sanctusfitness.co.uk or call 07508 120101.