Hannah Robinson is hoping to sign off her days as a “part-time” GB boxer in style.
The Birtley star defends her lightweight title at Thursday’s GB Boxing Championship in Sheffield.
Robinson is up against a familiar figure – taking on York’s Kirsty Hill in the U60 kilo match.
Hannah currently splits her time between working as a receptionist for the NHS, GB Boxing’s base at the English Institute for Sport, the venue for this competition, plus Birtley ABC.
It is a combination, no pun intended, which has served her well at domestic level, winning the National Amateur title (ABAs in ‘old money’), the GB Championship and Tri Nations.
“I am looking forward to Thursday,” Robinson told punch-lines. “I boxed in the GBs last year and won so it is good to be defending it here.
“It’s nice to be boxing in Sheffield and I will have quite a few friends and family here to support me.
“At the moment I am part-time so I work at the NHS, train at the EIS with GB and do stuff at Birtley.
“It’s a really good mix and I have done well.
“But in 2020 I am looking to go full-time so I can get more international experience.
“I have achieved titles domestically but now I want to step up to international level.”
Robinson (pictured with Birtley coach Graeme Rutherford) will face a tough examination at the hands of Hill, who has already beaten her this year, via a split decision in the national semis in Nottingham.
The Cleethorpes Trinity boxer is also full of confidence following a recent win over Sunderland’s Simone Thompson.
Your punch-lines writer saw Kirsty drop a close points decision earlier this year to Sadie Thomas in Hartlepool, where she showed she could box and fight.
Click here to see how you can watch the GB Boxing Championships on the BBC.
This lightweight showdown at the English Institute of Sport could be one of the bouts of the night.
Robinson is one third of a strong North-East contingent at the exciting competition.
Middlesbrough’s Jade Pearce has the challenge of taking on GB’s Raven Chapman in the U57 kilo contest.
Jade, the daughter of Teesside boxing great John Pearce, was a National Amateur Championship semi-finalist in April, defeating Angelica Finch in the last eight before losing out to Haringey’s Amy Andrew.
Jim Tyers has an intriguing duel with Ramtin Musah at 75 kilos.
The East Durham boxer reached the last four of the National Amateur Championship and now meets the boxer who took the silver medal at middleweight.
Doors open at 6.45pm with boxing due to begin at 7.30pm.
Words: Roy Kelly
