Sport

Young stars make their Den-mark

A TEAM of young fighters from Ulster travelled to the home of the Vikings recently - and slayed all before them.

The multi-nation HBK Box Cup in Hillerod, Denmark has been a staple of the boxing calendar since 1985, and the 12-strong Ulster team - led by Tommy Quinn (Townland BC), John Elliott (Letterkenny BC) and Catherine Meli (Immaculata) - certainly made their presence felt as they returned home with eight gold medals, three silvers and a bronze.

Golds went to Alexandra Lynch, Caitlin Fryers, Tom Stokes, Lee Harkin, Oran McNaughton, Kane Tucker, Anthony Johnston and Callum Bradley. Tyler McMullan took silver after a hard-fought all-Ulster final defeat to Tom Stokes, as did Peter McCartan and Paul McCullagh, who also fell to a team-mate when defeated by Johnston in the final. Letterkenny's Brian Elliott claimed bronze after a tough fight against Stoffe Karlsson from the host nation.

Coach Tommy Elliott said it had been an invaluable experience for the young fighters - all aged between 13 and 15 - as it was the first taste of international competition for many of them.

"We were training them at Braid boxing club on the four Saturdays before we flew out to Denmark, and you could tell even then they were taking it extremely serious," said Quinn.

"This kind of international experience is the best thing for them because it brings them on, not just as boxers but as individuals. Every one of them was a credit to their clubs and their province."

Back at home and Quinn, like coaches all over Ulster, is focusing on the domestic action coming up for his club - Townland BC - and he was keen to sing the praises of some of the young fighters who have been doing the business for the Crumlin club.

"I've a lad, Ben Nelson, who comes in from Dungannon every night to Crumlin, and he won the Antrim intermediates at 51kg. He has come through snow drifts over the last two years since he started boxing, and he got his reward," said Quinn.

"We also lifted three golds at the Ulster novices - Adam Carson (46kg), John McConnell (31kg) and Reece O'Hara (60kg). It's great for the club.

"Even if there's people who don't want to box but just want to train in a boxing environment, our doors are always open."