LCB amateur squad update: 2022-2023 season
As the season draws to a close, we reflect on the hard work and results from our amateur squad over the last year – and what lies ahead
And somehow it’s the end of the season! This was Coach Chris Lodge, aka Lodgie’s, second season at the helm of our burgeoning amateur team, and what a year it’s been as the squad grows, develops and learns.
There is no doubt as to the commitment on show – with a great team that is built on a culture of hard work and dedication (with a healthy dose of fun too). This sport requires commitment, with hours put in both inside the gym and out, but the number of carded boxers is now in double figures, with a handful more just finalising their registration and medicals – meaning we’ll have even more next year.
Chris McKenzie continues to nurture and mentor the Junior team, with some really exciting home-grown talent emerging from their ranks. John and David are carded ahead of next season, and we can’t wait to see them out, competing and representing the club.
As for the seniors, it’s been an incredible season. Dr Ella Harris and Ali Richards are amazing role models for the entire team – and it was brilliant to see their hard work rewarded this year. Ella took home the Elite National Championship title at 48kg at the finals in Newcastle (you can watch that fight on YouTube here), while Ali won the Elite London Regional belt at 52kg. “Both boxers are a credit to the sport and continue to impress with their work ethic and professional approach at the highest level,” Lodgie says, with tangible (and deserved) pride.
We had five of our boxers compete at Golden Girl (Borås, Sweden) in February of this year, all doing the club proud. Emma Stirling-Middleton showed her tenacity in a long-awaited first bout, while Zoe Hefford – a new recruit that has joined us with lots of experience – had her first outing for LCB, alongside Ali, Ella and Sophie Thorpe. With a handful of other club shows along the way, the season drew to a close with the Haringey Box Cup. Injuries sadly took some of our team out, but there was a great showing from Sophie in the Class C final and an exciting first step into elite-level boxing for Zoe.
For now, it’s the off-season (more on that soon) – but we’ll be back to take on even more for the 2023-2024 season. We can’t wait to get some of our males out now they’re carded; they’ve been training hard and are ready to go. Our squad will be gearing up for club shows, as well as a host of big tournaments – the National Development Championships (October 2023), Women’s Winter Box Cup (December 2023), Golden Girl (February 2024) and National Amateur Championships (April 2024), as well as Regional Title Belts.
None of this is possible without our coaching team – with a massive thanks to Lodgie (who puts in more hours than anyone else at the gym), Chris Mack (who will always be on hand to put together a savage circuit for us, and puts the juniors through their paces) and Christian Gervasi (the newest addition to the team who is already proving his dedication). Beyond the official coaching squad, Emma has not only been training hard to fight but is our Club Secretary extraordinaire, supporting with cornering, registering boxers and helping sort out all the inevitable administration that comes with the more fun side of a sport.
Keep an eye out for more updates, as well as a bit more of a dive into the world of amateur boxing in the coming months.
If you’re interested in joining our squad and competing as an amateur boxer, please get in touch – or drop by the gym and chat to one of the team