LAUNCESTON Amateur Boxing Club held their annual presentation day recently at their Westgate Centre base.

It was a remarkable year for the club. They started 2018 in their facility down at Newport before moving to their new home in the centre of town.

Club coach Des Charnock thanked Dave Cash of Bowden Derra for generously providing the premises for the young people of Launceston to train and a number of local businesses and members who helped make the facility suitable.

Following that, Des said: “The Launceston boxers still maintain a great reputation and a lot of respect for themselves. So I have to say to all the boxers, a very big well done to you all, their conduct, as always has been exemplary and they always participate as true and genuine sportsmen and women.

“As I always say, the success of Launceston Boxing Club is not attributed to just the coaches or even the boxers. The success is because of you all, everyone contributes one way or another. We have the boxers parents who religiously bring in their children week in week out, we have volunteers who have become officials such as judges and timekeepers and MCs, we also have volunteers who form the clubs committee who work very hard in arranging all the club shows. So to everyone who contributes in someway to the club I must say a massive thank you and together, you are all responsible for all the success of our club.”

Des then thanked Derek Broad of Homeleigh Garden Centre for all of his generous sponsorship over the years of the club shows as well as supplying a club tracksuit to all of the youngsters who compete.

Further up, Jordan Platt and Wes Smith now fight professionally and will look to continue their success in 2019.

They competed in 27 contests last season with 12 wins, eight skills and only seven losses with Luther Clayton being crowned as the Junior Novice Champion.

Des then went on to announce the winners of the five awards which were as follows:

Harry Davison Cup (best bout of the season) — Callum Charnock v Lewis Roberts (Malmesbury); Jon Charnock Cup (club sportsman of the year) — Tresillian Gwennap; Jim Davison Award (most skilful boxer/s) — Leighton Platt and Billy Jago; Smith Cup (most improved) — Brandon Charnock; Basford Belt (highest accolade of the season) — Luther Clayton

Des then continued to praise the members for their efforts.

He said: “The club now has over 100 members of which over 70 train on a regular basis and these awards are recognition for all the hard work and regular training in the gym in preparation for competition for all of you.

“Some are not yet old enough to compete but all the individuals always work hard, train almost every week and are developing into true sporting athletes and genuine and very nice individuals. So well done to all of you.

“I have to say, we have a lot of superb individuals within the club and together we make one big family.

“I am always proud to be able to call myself your coach and you are all a massive pleasure to work with.

“The next season has already started and I wish everyone all the best and hope you all enjoy boxing as much as I do.”

To find out more about the club, search ‘Launceston Amateur Boxing Club’ on Facebook.