How many titles can Tyne, Tees & Wear come away with from England’s National Amateur Championships?
We are just days away from finding out as five boxers from our regions take part in the finals at Manchester Central this Saturday.
Working through in weight order, Joe Tyers, Hannah Shield, Mark Dickinson, Georgia O’Connor and Ben Jarvis will take part in the showpiece event, which BBC TV will be covering.
TTW came away with double gold in 2018 thanks to Birtley duo, Hannah Robinson and Ben Rees, and this year’s hopes rest with the fantastic five.
Four of them came through England’s National Amateur Championships semi-finals on Sunday when there was disappointment as a further four bowed out.
Tyne, Tees & Wear were guaranteed a finalist in each of the middleweight finals.
O’Connor was already through to a straight final, while in the men’s section, number one seed Dickinson had an all NE semi-final with Jim Tyers on Sunday.
It is a shame one had to exit at the Harvey Hadden Sports Complex.
The duo had produced two of the best displays of the Saturday action, but one had to go and it was the East Durham man who lost on a unanimous decision.
Mark now faces Ramtin Musah (Beartown) in Saturday’s final, with Georgia meeting Jodie Wilkinson.
At U60 kilos, Joe Tyers beat Jake Leeming (Hunslet) by a split decision, setting the slick Darlington operator up with a final against Masood Abdulah (Islington).
There is another TTW v London shown at U64 kilos where Shield will face Haringey’s Oriance Lungu. Hannah won her semi against the Navy’s Sophie Colbourn by a unanimous verdict.
It’s capital opposition too for Ben Jarvis at U86 kilos after the Redcar cruiser beat Mali Wright (Tigers) by a split decision. He now takes on Kheron Gilpin, from Miguel’s in Brixton.
Good luck to all the boxers.
Now onto the unpleasant part of the story.
Teesside lost out to London in two of the lower weight division as Middlesbrough’s Muzzy Fuyana was beaten by Connor Daly (Islington) by a unanimous decision at U52 kilos while at U57, Wellington’s Jade Pearce missed out by the same verdict to Amy Andrew (Haringey).
There were high hopes we would get to see an all North-East final at lightweight, but the U60 kilo section did not go to seeding.
Robinson lost to Kirsty Hill (Cleethorpes Trinity) by a split decision while Headland’s second seed, Sadie Thomas, was eliminated by Londoner Louise Orton (St Mary’s) by a unanimous verdict.
At U69 kilos, Howdon’s April Hunter lost out to Laura Stevens (Far Cotton) by a split decision.
In the battle of the big fellas, Steve Robinson, from Swalwell, was edged out by a split decision by Delicious Orie (Jewellery Quarter)
