WITH Olympic, World and European champions pushing the sport front and centre, Irish boxing has seen an upsurge in female participation – with the promise of much more to come.
Katie Taylor’s gold medal triumph at London 2012 was a watershed moment for boxing and, over a decade on, the Bray woman remains the biggest draw in the female game.
But it is the trickle-down effects since that has been most significant from a grassroots perspective in Ireland.
Fellow Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington eventually emerged from Taylor’s shadow to carve out a glorious career of her own. Amy Broadhurst remembers being awestruck watching Taylor circle the ring in London – she has followed her dream and cleaned up across the board.
The depth of talent in Irish female boxing is growing and improving participation at all levels, both inside and outside the ring, is the objective of new Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) women in sport and inclusion officer, Sophie Doolan.
Her appointment was announced on International Women’s Day, when the IABA also launched its 50:24 campaign - a drive to increase by 50 per cent the number of women qualified to coach by the end of the year.
At present, one in 10 boxing coaches in Ireland are women, and the IABA will fund and deliver a coaching course delivered to over 90 women by the end of the year, with fundamentals the first step on the coach education pathway.
Expressions of interest to women registered club members was opened last week, and Doolan believes there is huge scope for increasing participation numbers across the board.
“This is groundbreaking for the IABA, and presents a great opportunity,” she said.
“Already a number of women from across the country – a large number from Ulster counties – have signed up to take part, and I’m hoping that continues to grow.
“Huge strides that have been made in female boxing in the past 20 years, and that’s where myself and the IABA come in – we want to ensure as many of those women and girls who want to participate in boxing are able to do that.
“For us to be able to fund and deliver coach education for those women is something I’m very excited about.”
In tandem with the 50:24 campaign, Doolan and the IABA are also launching a drive to increase the number of judge and referee qualification opportunities for women.
Officiating is a pathway, and judges must be qualified for one year before they can begintraining as referees.
“Without judges and referees, there is no competitive boxing,” she said, “and this programme will increase the number of women officials at all levels – club, county, provincial unit and national.
“It’s important for the individual women beginning or progressing their officiating careers, and for the diversity of the officiating community.”
While new to boxing, Doolan has spent much of her life volunteering in sport, both as a coach and as an elected official. She is head coach of the TU Dublin, Tallaght campus men and women’s volleyball teams, and the first woman coach of the TU Dublin men’s varsity volleyball team.
As a result she understands the time investment involved to ensure boxers are given the best possible training, and that clubs are run to the highest standard.
“I’ve been involved in sport my whole life,” she said.
“I did boxing for a few weeks in college but that was it unfortunately because I was there on a volleyball scholarship and that sort of took over.
“But, like everybody, you watch the likes of Katie and what she has done, and the impact she has had. I had the pleasure of meeting Kellie Harrington a few weeks ago and she’s a great person to talk to.
“Girls need female role models in sport – even if it’s not in your chosen sport, just to be able to have someone to look up to is amazing.
“It’s lovely to see the strides that have been made in recent years, and all these younger girls have female role models now, somebody to say ‘that’s who I want to be when I grow up’.”
Sophie Doolan can be contacted on all women in sport and inclusion matters via sophie@iaba.ie
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BOXING TOPS THE BILL AT COUNCIL AWARDS
BOXING delivered another knockout performance after cleaning up at Belfast City Council’s sports awards at City Hall.
Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, two-time Olympic bronze medallist Barnes and renowned coach Michael Hawkins were all inducted into the council’s sporting Hall of Fame on Friday night.
Holy Trinity stalwart Hawkins also picked up a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association last year.
Friday’s awards ceremony also saw last summer’s Commonwealth Games success recognised.
Siblings Aidan and Michaela Walsh - both gold medal winners in Birmingham - were named senior male and female sports personality of the year, with John Conlan winning the male coach of the year award.
Star light-welter John Paul Hale and Carly McNaul, who secured a second Commonwealth Games silver medal last summer, were also nominated for the male and sports personality of the year awards.
The Belfast City Council sports awards recognise the achievements of local athletes at all levels and give recognition to the dedication and commitment of coaches and volunteers who work to support athletes and clubs.
"The talent in the room this evening is incredible,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Christina Black.
“Having the opportunity to meet so many great sportspeople across Belfast and hear of their commitment and dedication to their sport is inspiring.
"Not only do we have so many elite high performing athletes competing on the world stage, but our grassroots teams and coaches continue to demonstrate incredible success year on year.
"Even more importantly, we're lucky to have people who tirelessly give of their time to volunteer and support others, particularly our younger athletes, to reach their full potential and experience healthy lifestyles.
“Congratulations to all of our nominees and award winners on what has been a special evening of celebration.”
