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Town chosen for national contest

11/12/2002

BOXING'S answer to the Commonwealth Games hits Middleton this weekend.

The NACYP British Championship Finals descends on Middleton Civic Centre, in Fountain Street, on Friday night. The Class B tournament will see the best 16-year-olds from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales battling it out for the coveted British titles.

It is the first time the prestigious event has been held outside London after Hopwood Hall College's boxing academy attracted organisers to view the town as a possible venue.

Head coach at the academy, Jimmy Barker, said: "This is something that we are delighted to be staging in Middleton. It is something that everyone in the town should be proud of."

Manchester City Council applied to stage the event last year, but it was turned down. The Middleton-based college's successful boxing academy has received national praise, and it has attracted some of the best youngsters in the region.

Mr Barker added: "There was a discrepancy about where and when the finals were going to be held, so I jumped in straight away and suggested doing them at the college. Unfortunately, the college was booked up, so we decided to have it at the civic centre."

The competition will see 12 contests, covering all divisions.

Mr Barker continued: "We have built up great links with a lot of amateur clubs across the country and they were more than happy for us to get involved with it. We expect a capacity of 500, and I'm in no doubt it will sell out."

Ben Lancaster, of Hopwood Hall College and Boarshaw Amateur Boxing Club, said: "It is brilliant that we have got it here. It is surely the most prestigious event the town has ever held."

The event begins at 8pm.