BRITISH BOXING UNVEIL NEW BASE AT EIS SHEFFIELD

by Rebecca Lee 12.05.09

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe marked a new era for British boxing on Sunday at a special event in the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield, where the sport’s new Olympic gym was unveiled.

Having based the full time boxing programme at the site for almost two years, the new state-of-the-art boxing hall will be used by the GB Podium & Development Squads in the run up to the London 2012 Games, where GB will be hoping to build on the successful trio of medals from Beijing.

“I am a keen boxing fan and it is a privilege to open this new gym. We have congratulated GB Boxing for their success at European and Olympic contests but those congratulations are in the past – this is the future. This is a world class facility and that doesn’t happen by chance. This is the result of the hard work of a team led by Derek Mapp which has built on the success in Beijing” said Gerry Sutcliffe, Sports Minister.

“There has never been a better time for young people to be involved in this sport. I am proud of the investment from UK Sport, the Government and Lottery Funding” he added.

Richard Caborn MP, who is president of the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE), was amongst 150 guests including EIS Regional Director Peter Elliott and a number of EIS practitioners who work closely with the programme delivering sport science and medical services.

“We are delighted that British Boxing have this new facility at which to develop athletes in the run up to the London 2012 Games” says Elliott.

“Having worked closely with the sport over the last cycle, our practitioners working across the squad are fully focused on delivering performance impact and we relish the opportunity to work closely with the athletes, coaches and management to achieve their goals” he adds.

EIS practitioners Pete Lindsey (Sports Psychologist), Ian Gatt (Physiotherapist), Mike Loosemore (Doctor), Mark Ellison (Nutritionist), Ian Pyper (S&C) and Rob Gibson (PA), were amongst the crowd.

BABA chairman Derek Mapp outlined how the new gym was evidence of the association’s commitment and confidence in the young squad, saying:

“This is the start of our serious campaign. We hope this facility will prove truly inspirational. I am proud to be in here – it feels right as a gym but also as the base for our support staff – and will help demonstrate that we are now a properly run organisation. We believe we can provide the very best for our boxers and support team. I hope this facility is testament of our commitment to the future and will reinforce the boxers’ commitment to the sport.”

Kevin Hickey, GB Boxing Performance Director, added: “We are privileged that from this base, with the best coaches and support staff, we can deliver a truly world class service and results. Any success at Olympic level is based on a team approach and this is what we have here.”

Photo courtesy of BABA