NINE of the regions rising boxing stars proved they were a huge hit at the National Schoolboys' finals last weekend.

Fourteen youngsters from across the region were in action at the prestigious finals at Barnsley's Metrodome and only five were unable to return North with a winners medal in their hand.

Spennymoor ABC enjoyed the most success with both of their boys claiming victories against respected opposition.

Bradley Saunders, 16, now has a better record than former world featherweight champion Naseem Hamed did as an amateur, after winning his Class 4 54kg bout with Repton's Danny Clark.

It is Bradley's fifth national title, but this time the young fighter, from Bishop Middleham was awarded a belt for being the best young boxer amongst the 46 finalists.

Another Spennymoor boxer, Gary Reay, 16, from Wheatley Hill, also brought back a national title as he overcame Medway's Jason Trottman in a Class 4 51kg fight.

Club secretary Paul Hodgson said Gary had staged a spectacular comeback to win his first national championship.

He said: "Gary has put four former champions out before the finals. They're calling him True Grit because he lost his first six bouts, so he's an example to the rest of the club because he's stuck in there.

"These two are national champions, the jewels in the crown at the moment, but we've got some fantastic kids coming through the ranks."

There were also successes for six of the North-East's other amateur boxing clubs.

Twelve-year-old Steven Cosgrove, of the Hartlepool Catholic Club, was tremendous in his Class 1 32kg contest with Repton's Billy Buckland.

And Cosgrove recorded a points victory which his coach Paul Allen was delighted with.

Allen said: "Considering Steven won this title having only had ten previous fights he was fantastic. He looked a million dollars.

"He has always had to go in against lads a little bit older than him but he showed tremendous potential to win this."

Darlington's Robert Smith succeeded in comfortably defeating Robert Carvey, from Earlsfield, in their Class 1 51kg fight, while Horden Sportsman's Gary Hancock made a name for himself by beating Edward Corcoran (Trojan) on points in their Class 1 39kg fight.

Gary made light work of Corcoran, winning 15-7.

The other four winners were Christopher Riley (Wellington), Trevor Carewe (Plains Farm), Martin Ward (Birtley) and James McElvaney (South Bank) who overcame Bradley Skeete (Earlsfield), Simon O'Donnell (Dale Youth), Ben Fowl (Hailybury) and Jack Bowen (Repton) respectively.

It was not all glory for the region's clubs however, as five boxers had to settle for a runners-up medal.

Blaydon's Philip Steel found Lenny Ripley of Eltham and District too strong, while Darlington's Elliot Welsh was out-pointed by Finchley's Ashley Sexton.

The second Catholic Club boxer was Glenn Watson, but he suffered dejection at the hands of Cheshunt's Billy Saunders.

Birtley's John Dickenson and Horsley Hill's Chris Mullen were defeated by Golden Ring's Tony Hill and Repton's Ryan Pickard respectively