Sandygate ABC celebrate another successful year

Up and coming talent awards went to Stewart Reilly (10, Minors), Spencer Wilkes (14, Schoolboys) and Ben Jeffries (17, Seniors).

Bout of the year honours were received by Dalton Stoiles (11, Minors), Rio Lynch (14, Schoolboys) and Reece Farnhill (18, Seniors).

Most improved accolades were given to Charly Vassilev (11, Minors), Sam Walsh and Jaden Howarth-Franklin (both Schoolboys) and Max Turner (16, Seniors).

Boxer of the year titles were truly earned by Troy Richmond (11, Minors), Hasan Khan (13, Schoolboys) and Reece Farnhill (18, Seniors).

The prestigious Bob Rosbotham Trophy, given to the boxer who shows the true Sandygate fighting spirit, was awarded to Ryan Haythornthwaite (15).

Sandygate coach Shaun Dwyer was also recognised for his outstanding contribution to boxing. The club would like to thank all who supported on the night – with not a empty seat in the house, it was another resounding success.

Not to rest on theie laurels, the club had entered two promising young boxers into the National Development Championship.

Senior Reece Farnhill (18) drew J.Halliwell (Radcliffe Elite ABC) in the Class B (11-20 bouts only) quarter-finals at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.

Lasting less than a minute, the exciting Farnhill threw a barrage of hooks with such ferrocity, the referee had no choice to end the bout as Halliwell was in no fit state to continue, handing the Sandygate star a first round knockout victory.

Farnhill then faced R.Patterson (Macclesfield ABC) in the semi-finals at Stalybridge, Tameside.

In what was again a one-sided display – although Patterson was a lot more durable and carried a very tight defence – Farnhill hunted him down for all three rounds, throwing wave after wave of attacks, switching from head to body, connecting with ease, earning the Sandygate pugilist a spot in the final after a unanimous verdict.

Entering the junior development competition, Unity College student Sam Walsh (14) was drawn against a boxer with a famous boxing father Campbell Hatton (Northside ABC). Not fazed by his following and surname, Walsh put in a cracking display, winning two of the three rounds in a hardfought contest and gaining a well deserved place in the final after a unanimous verdict.