TEN inspirational young people have been honoured during a County Durham boxing club’s maiden awards ceremony.  

West Auckland Amateur Boxing Gym’s recently held its first ever awards ceremony – honouring some of the best and most promising athletes of the region.

Within the accolades evening, Thomas Nicholson received the Best Overall Boxer and Best Junior awards in recognition of winning the most bouts over the season, with the 12-year-old claiming three victories.

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Meanwhile, Kalim Stuart picked up the ‘Best Performance’ award after the 22-year-old claimed his, and the gym’s, first title belt last October after lifting the 57 kilo Tyne Tees Wear Development Belt.

Head coach of the club, Ernest Spowart, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the dedication and hard work of all those involved as well as the generosity of those organisations and businesses that have provided practical help, because without their support these awards would not have happened.”

The gym was founded in the early months of 2020 during the first lockdown.

Since that point, it has attracted a host of high-profile visitors including former IBF cruiserweight champion Glenn McCrory, former IBF bantamweight champion Paul Butler, former IBO super middleweight champion Robin Reid, and current WBC silver middleweight title holder Sam Eggington.

The awards ceremony, held at West Auckland Working Men’s Club, also saw accolades presented to: Hardest Worker, Alfie Campbell; Most Dedicated, Ella Carey; Most Courageous, Brad Meale; Best Prospect, Joseph Blake; Fittest Boxer, Rhys McGurk; Most Fearless, Stephen Hutchinson; Best Effort, Lewis Marley; Best Senior: Hayden Wells.

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