A new village boxing club has generated plenty of ‘fighting talk’ – and it’s not just the boys who are looking forward to squaring up in the ring.
The girls at Great Lumley near Chester-le-Street also think it’s a knockout idea.
At the club’s new headquarters in Great Lumley Community Centre, founder members Allan Bell and Gary and Alison Younger are signing up new members from the age of 11 upwards.
Doing the honours at the official launch this weekend are two of Wearside’s top combatants, Olympic bronze medal winner for boxing Tony Jeffries and Ross Pearson, a former winner of the Ultimate Fighter Series – that’s a lethal mix of martial arts, boxing and wrestling skills.
Grants from the Sir James Knott Trust, the County Durham Foundation and the Neighbourhood Budget scheme that allows county councillors to draw down up to £33,000 to spend on community projects and initiatives.
In total the new boxing club has received £9,600 which includes Neighbourhood Budget money from Allan Bell who is a county councillor for Great Lumley.
“The community centre is a real focus for village activities and we will be using facilities for training for the boxing club. The idea took shape when we asked for ideas from local youngsters. Setting up a boxing club was a popular choice.
“We have had a tremendous response from grant agencies to help get the club off the ground and I would like to thank Karen Graham from voluntary services for all the help she gave to make applications for funding.
“We expect a good response at our launch and we have had enquiries from girls as well as boys. In these days of equal opportunities we have to cater for everyone and women boxers will be competing for medals at the Olympics in 2012*,” said Allan who was a former member of the Chester Moor Boxing Club.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the boxing club and how to join should get in touch with Great Lumley Community Centre.
Get ready for boxing action at Lumley: l-r William Scott (11), Coun Alan Bell and Clayton Younger (11).
*International Olympic Committee chiefs voted last year to lift the barrier to the last all-male summer sport.
