Hannah next star to come out of top club
CRAIG JOHNS BREAKS THE FIRST RULE
OVER the years Birtley ABC has nurtured some of the finest boxers to come out of this region.
The Dickinson brothers, the Ward brothers, Joe Laws, the Mccormack twins and Callum French to name but a few.
And Hannah Robinson is the latest sticking to that trend after a fantastic 2018.
Having returned from a long-term shoulder injury at the beginning of the year, Robinson won the England Boxing Elite National title in May, the Three Nations in June, passed trials and made it onto the Team GB development squad and then last week won her first competition as a GB boxer.
Competing in the 2018 GB Boxing Championships at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, the 24-year-old scored the only knockdown of the evening when she floored England’s Kimberley Rowe en-route to a unanimous victory in the lightweight contest.
“It went well although I do think I could have boxed better,” ever the perfectionist, she said of the win. “I was landing the cleaner shots and I did catch her lovely with one in the first round so overall I am happy with it.
“It’s a great end to a good year. I won the elites earlier in the year, after a long time out with a shoulder injury, and everything else has come from that.
“It got me the GB assessment and now I am part of the Development squad. I get great training at GB and with my club Birtley ABC so it’s all going really well.”
A Durham University graduate, Robinson has always been sporty and has a black belt in taekwondo. She started boxing five years ago, initially joining Bishop Auckland ABC where she was born.
But after a number of injuries started to dampen her spirits, she decided a change in scenery might do her good and moved to the renowned Birtley gym. And an incredible 2018 has put her firmly on track to become the next international star off the production
line. “It’s been a really good year and I’m feeling really happy. To come back from a long time out with a shoulder injury to win what I have and make it onto the GB team is amazing.
“The facilities are great and I am hoping it will lead to a lot more opportunities for me.
“I want to fight the best in the world. I’ve not got much international experience so now I’m part of GB I’m hoping more will come.
“I really enjoy the challenge and it is exciting to see where I might go.
“Ultimately the goal is to become fulltime with the GB squad and just be as great as a I possibly can be. I just want to push myself to go as far as I possibly can.”
One crucial thing for Robinson is not resting on her laurels.
Rather than sit back and think she’s made it now, Robinson instead sees 2019 as a huge opportunity to develop.
“There’s still so much more that I need to learn and improve upon.
“But I couldn’t be in a better position. As well as GB I’m also part of Birtley where I have Graeme Rutherford helping and coaching me and pushing me on. That’s the best people around me to help me do that.
“I’m also training alongside people like Pat and Luke Mccormack and Callum French who I learn so much from as well.
“Birtley is the best place to be.”
I want to fight the best in the world... I really enjoy the challenge and it is exciting to see where I might go. Hannah Robinson