ULSTER boxing history was made on Sunday when a first all-female boxing event took place at the Black Mountain Shared Space in Belfast.
The County Antrim Boxing Board, through Belfast City Council’s boxing strategy and its female development squad initiative, hosted 18 top quality exhibition bouts - with all female boxers, coaches, officials, medical staff and presenters.
Also there to mark the day was Belfast’s two-time Olympian - and Commonwealth Games gold medallist - Michaela Walsh, who could hardly have imagined such a day when she first laced up gloves.
Councillor Ruth Brooks, chair of the people and communities committee, as well as Belfast City Council’s disability working group, was on hand to make presentations in what was a celebration of female contribution to the sport.
European U22 silver medallist Carleigh Irving (Oakleaf), Irish elite finalist Zoe McCaughran (Evolution) and Kelly Sloan, from City of Belfast Boxing Academy, received their IABA Fundamentals of Boxing coaching certificate.
Sloan carved out her own piece of history too by becoming the first wheelchair user in the city to complete her fundamentals course, with the hope to introduce boxing sessions for people with disabilities in future.
Co Antrim president Patrick Barnes sr, meanwhile, awarded services to boxing and women in sport awards to Kate Meli (Immaculata) and Anne Murphy (Banbridge).
After what was a landmark day for Ulster boxing, plans are already afoot for further all-female events – with Bridget Scott, workforce development officer, outlining Sunday’s significance.
“It came about because myself and female coaches from a couple of other clubs had noticed that a lot of our girls, in County Antrim in particular and Ulster in general, were receiving a lot of walkovers because there wasn’t other girls in at their weight.
“Obviously the boys were getting bouts, so coming up to competition time their sparring opportunities were maybe prioritise. That’s perfectly understandable because of the amount, and the level of boxing among the boys, which is very high in Antrim.
“But we were finding the girls weren’t having that many sparring opportunities, so we appeached the Co Antrim Board to try and do something and, fair play, they advised us to form a committee, told us how to go about it.
“They couldn’t have been more supportive.”
Thus, the foundations were put in place for the County Antrim development squad, with training taking place at Midland BC, and a growing interest from outside Antrim as other clubs were keen for their boxers to get involved.
As a result, it is also hoped that the Leinster and Ulster development squads could come together for sparring and competition days in the months ahead.
“On average there’s around 40 girls, then coaches and referees, and it really works well,” said Scott.
“Even on Sunday, it was important for the coaches to see the female referees and think ‘oh, maybe I could do that’, and for the boxers see female coaches doing corners.
“One of the elements during one of the safeguarding courses was for everybody to say a time that was really positive in their sporting life. Most of the girls were saying things like ‘I remember when I won the County Antrims’, or ‘the first time ever I was on a plane was because of boxing’.
“And then one of the young girls said ‘the first time I did all-girls training’ – she said never had she gone in and all the emphasis was on girls; girls were the priority. I didn’t expect that feedback, but it was great to hear.
“There is a real interest in it, and great support. County Antrim and the Belfast strategy staff are very committed to it, they really do put their money where their mouth is; they’re trying their best to help, and to make sure we have what we need.
“Hopefully it can be the first of many.”
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ANTRIM V DERRY ON FRIDAY NIGHT
THERE is some top quality action in store when some of Ulster’s top up-and-coming talent collide in Belfast on Friday night.
Alongside two Antrim 6s finals getting the night under way, a County Antrim team will go toe-to-toe with a County Derry select at St Colm’s high school – first bout 7pm.
Antrim 6s finals
Boy 4 57kg: N McCarthy (St George’s) v A Scullion (Ardoyne); Boy 4 66kg: A Corbett (Phoenix) WO E Moore (Phoenix)
Co Antrim v Co Derry
Boy 1 40kg: O McGarry (Glengormley) v C Murray (St John’s); Boy 2 38.5kg: J Brown (St Paul’s) v C McFall (Moneyglass); Boy 2 44.5kg: F Mooney (Banbridge) v M Viljoen (Star of the Sea); Boy 2 52kg: A Close (Ledley Hall) v O Higgins (St John’s); Boy 3 42kg: J McCann (Corpus Christi) v M Ward (Oakleaf); Boy 3 42kg: T Doherty (Glengormley) v J Cairns (Oakleaf); Boy 3 62kg: A Gentle (Phoenix) v S Hughes (Skerries); Boy 3 72kg: C Binks (Rathfriland) v T Kerr (Churchlands); Boy 4 52kg: C Smyth (SJ Bosco) v A McGowan (Churchlands); Boy 4 66kg: C Dowds (Immaculata) v C O Doherty (Ring); Boy 4 70kg: F Aston (Bangor Abbey) v M Storey (Star of the Sea); Boy 4/5 39kg: J Reilly (Immaculata) v T Cox (St Joseph’s); Boy 5 66kg: T Russell (Canal) v N O’Kane (Ring); Boy 5 70kg: J Brown (Ledley Hall) v J Cunningham (St Joseph’s); U18 67kg: S Gray (Clonard) v C O’Neill (Scorpion); U18 75kg: O Sloan (Star) v B Boyd (Scorpion)
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DUFFY HOPES NEW IABA CENTRAL COUNCIL CAN PROVIDE SOLID BASE
ULSTER’S representation on the central council of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has increased following the weekend’s AGM.
Derry man Eugene Duffy, a stalwart of Irish boxing for over 60 years, was elected vice-president, with Dealgan’s Anto Donnelly taking up the role of president. Tara Robins Mari is national secretary, with Stephen Connolly returning as national registrar and Larry Morrison as treasurer.
Seamus Kelly (Castleblayney), Newtownstewart’s John Gallagher – father of Paris 2024 Olympian, Jude – and Bishop Kelly’s Gary McGillion join Beijing Olympian, and Olympic Mullingar coach, Johnny Joyce, Philip Keogh (Dublin Docklands), Anna Moore (St Francis’), Paddy Osbourne (Glasnevin) and Anto White (Na Fianna) as the other members elected to the central council.
“I’m happy to be elected,” said Duffy.
“There was no foundation to the last central council, so we hope to change that. There was no central council meetings, now we want to see that return, greater transparency, more contact with the high performance, the board of directors - and more competitions.
“That’s a major priority; more boxing, at all levels, at the National Stadium, because that’s what it’s there for. The central council is back up and running, and that’s the main thing for now.”
