Spennymoor Boxing Academy are geared up for another tough season and kick-off the year with a show early next month.

The club have a healthy squad of 15 boxers from all over the region with some travelling many miles to represent one of the country's top clubs and on November 8 they will be taking on a select team called the Pride of the Midlands.

Rated as one of the best in the country by Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) officials, Spennymoor BA always make a huge effort with their shows and this one, being staged at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, is being organised in conjunction with Workwear Express of Coxhoe.

Spennymoor BA last year visited the USA where they were guests of the legendary Chicago Golden Gloves club who made the return tip earlier this year and now the Spennymoor club have been invited to Canada and Australia.

Coach, Robbie Ellis, said: "It is always the club's aim to take the lads on tours around the world and these two invites will be looked at carefully by us all at the club.

"But it is a great testament to how big our club has grown when I am receiving such invites.

"Our reputation is worldwide now and I am very proud of the effort all our boxers, coaches, officials and sponsors make to keep us up there at the top of the boxing tree."

Meanwhile, the club has presented a cheque for £200 to club doctor Andrew Herd of the town's Health Centre. The money was raised at a recent boxing tournament and paid for a new operating light.

* Tickets for the show are priced at £25 and include a four-course dinner and pre-fight entertainment. They are available from Robbie Ellis on 07968 205043 or the Leisure Centre