Three gifted North-East teenagers will have medals in their sights when England fly out to Bulgaria for the European Youth Championships.
Will Howe, Courtney Scott and Dan Toward will be on the plane on September 1 for the event in Sofia, where coach, John Stubbs, has high hopes.
Howe, from Natural Progression Boxing Academy, will be representing his country at super-heavyweight.
The 17-year-old former Phil Thomas School of Boxing star has already tasted success at Euro level in the juniors and will go into this competition with confidence.
“Will medalled with a bronze in his first year in the juniors and in last year’s competition he lost to the Russian boxer who went on to win it,” Stubbs told punch-lines.
“Will is a big, tough lad, but he is more than that.
“He can move well for a big lad, but his main attribute is that he is an absolute engine.
“He’s got the capacity to throw hundreds of punches, he’s a tremendous athlete.”
Like Howe, Scott looks well placed to challenge for the podium, having struck gold in the European Juniors in Russia last year.
Originally boxing out of Newbiggin ABC, the 17-year-old (pictured) now represents Headland in Hartlepool, where she is trained by national coach, Stubbs.
“Courtney is flying at the moment,” said John.
“If she ‘turns up’ I don’t see any reason why she won’t bring home a medal.
“This is her third major tournament in three years for England – she won a silver medal in her first and got gold in Russia last year when she was also named the boxer of the tournament.
“She’s in great form and getting better all the time.”
Toward is getting his first taste of European championship boxing, though the southpaw middleweight has already won plenty within this island.
“Dan is a bit of a mover, with lots of flair,” said Stubbs. “He’s a National Youth champ, Tri-Nations champ and National Clubs for Young People champ.
“We’ve just had a training camp in the Ukraine where Dan was absolutely outstanding. But he’s been absolutely outstanding from start to finish in all the camps.”
A lack of experience in Euro boxing will be no barrier to the 17-year-old Birtley talent, with punch-lines asking Stubbs if Dan is a medal prospect.
“Definitely,” was the one-word reply.
The Tyne, Tees & Wear division has been well represented in the build-up with Wearmouth’s Anth Kelly and Stubbs in the Ukraine with the boys with Hartlepool Catholic Club’s Amanda Coulson and Laura Sargeant, From East Middlesbrough in Ireland with the girls.
The team, listed below in full, will fly out to Sofia on the first with the action scheduled to start on the 4th.
Under 48kg – Holly Heffron (Heart of Portsmouth, Southern Counties).
Under 51kg – Simran Kaur (King’s Heath, East Midlands).
Under 54kg – Courtney Scott (Headland, Tyne and Wear).
Under 57kg – Elise Glynn (Hook & Jab, Merseyside and Cheshire).
Under 60kg – Caroline Dubois (Repton, London).
Under 64kg – Gemma Richardson (Scunthorpe, Yorkshire).
Under 69kg – Ellouise Challenger (Downend, Western Counties).
Under 81kg – Emily Asquith (Bridlington, Yorkshire).
Male Squad
Under 49kg – William Hewitt (Leigh, North West).
Under 56kg – Adan Mohammed (Repton, London).
Under 60kg – Adam Azim (Pinewood, Home Counties).
Under 69kg – Jack Oliphant (Bodyshots, London).
Under 75kg – Dan Toward (Birtley, Tyne, Tees and Wear).
Over 91kg – William Howe (Natural Progression, Tyne, Tees and Wear).
Words: Roy Kelly
