Men and women from GB Boxing win nine national titles at England Boxing Elite National championships 2017

Men and women from the GB Boxing squad won nine national titles at the 130^th England Boxing Elite National Championships 2017 this weekend at The Magna Centre in Rotherham.

Men from the GB Boxing squad entered 10 of the weight classes and won seven of the categories with victories for light-flyweight, Kiaran MacDonald (Sunderland ABC), flyweight, Niall Farrell (Kingstanding), light-welterweight, Luke McCormack (Birtley ABC), welterweight, Harris Akbar (Bradford Police), middleweight, Ben Whittaker (Firewalker Olympic Boxing Club), heavyweight, Cheavon Clarke (Gravesham ABC) and super-heavyweight, Solomon Dacres (Warley).

Women from GB Boxing entered four of the women’s weight classes and came away with two titles as middleweight, Natasha Gale (Jubilee ABC), secured her third national title and flyweight, Lisa Whiteside won a record-breaking seventh.

Whiteside said: “I always love to boxing in the England Boxing finals as it is good to prove you are the best in your home country. Being part of the GB Boxing squad, most of the time I box overseas so to be at home and give my family and friends a chance to see me compete is always special.

“Winning a seventh national title is great but I am always looking forward and my main aim for next year is to represent England in the Commonwealth Games. I have never been to a multi-sport event of that size so am really looking forward to it and today’s win means I should be well in line for selection.”

Two-time men’s middleweight champion, Ben Whittaker, said: “It’s amazing to win it again this year. When you look at the people that have won the title in the past at my weight, James DeGale, George Groves, Anthony Ogogo, the list goes on, it’s an amazing achievement to win it once so to do it again is fantastic.

“Last year, I was only 18 and was the new guy coming up but this year – as defending champion and having got on the GB Boxing squad – I knew I was the man to beat and had a big target on my back, so to win it again is just incredible. I am buzzing.”

19 national champions were crowned at the finals weekend from clubs from clubs in Tyne and Wear, the north west, the west midlands, the south west, the south coast, Yorkshire, London and the eastern counties of England.

The most successful clubs of the weekend were Birtley ABC and Nemesis ABC which came away with two national champions. Luke McCormack (light-welterweight) and Thomas Hodgson (lightweight) won in the men’s competition for the north eastern outfit whereas Louie Lynn (bantamweight) and Ellie Scotney (featherweight) ensured the London club had a male and female champion.

There were also three winners representing the Combined Services as Ebonie Jones and Stephanie Wroe from the Army won the women’s bantamweight and welterweight crowns and George Crotty of the Navy overcame defending champion, Tom Whittaker-Hart, to land the men’s light-heavyweight title.

Finals day began with the ringing of ten bells and 30-seconds applause in tribute to Ed Bilbey of Somercotes Elite Boxing Academy who lost his life following a recent bout in Derbyshire.

England Boxing has set-up a crowdfunding page to raise money for the Ed Bilbey Foundation established by his family. People are able to make donations at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/edward-bilbey-foundation//

The full results from Finals day were:

48kg – Demi-Jade Resztan (New Astley) beat Miriam Zouhou (Stratford Upon Avon) – UNAN

49kg – Kiaran Macdonald (Sunderland) beat Connor Butler (Everton Red Triangle) – SPLIT

51kg – Lisa Whiteside (JR Gym) beat Carly Skelly (North Mersey) – UNAN

52kg – Niall Farrell (Kingstanding) beat Blane Hyland (Salisbury) – UNAN

54kg – Ebonie Jones (Army) beat Emma Dolan (Lowestoft) – UNAN

56kg – Louie Lynn (Nemesis) beat Jack Hillier (Southampton) SPLIT

57kg – Ellie Scotney (Nemesis) beat Nina Hughes (Chadwell St Marys) – UNAN

60kg – Shona Whitwell (St Ives) beat Louise Orton (St Marys) – SPLIT

60kg – Thomas Hodgson (Birtley) beat Callum Thompson (Tower Hill) – SPLIT

64kg – Luke McCormack (Birtley) beat Martin McDonagh (Rumble) – UNAN

64kg – Cherrelle Brown (Islington) beat Paige Murney (Leicester Unity) – SPLIT