This article is from page 18 of the 2011-10-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THIRTY people have signed up to take part in the Clare Conquest amateur boxing competition. Organised by Ennis Chamber and Clare Crusaders, the event sees competitors with little or no previous boxing experience square off inside the ring. The aim of the game is to raise money for the Clare Crusaders, one of the country’s best-known providers of services to children with special needs.
After being through their paces over a tough 10-week training schedule, 36 boxers took part in last No- vember’s White Collar Boxing night in the West County Hotel. A crowd of over 1,000 people turned up to support the fighters who came from a wide variety of sporting and professional backgrounds.
The event was managed by former Olympian and professional boxer Cathal O’Grady of White Collar Boxing. Thirty first-time pugilists will step into the ring at this year’s fight night, which will take place at the Queens Hotel on November 25.
But before the boxing begins, all participants will be put through a tough training regime to make sure they are in peak physical condition,
Coached by Darren Ward of Fitness Solutions and Ennis Boxing Club coach Ollie Markham, a former national champion, this year’s group are facing eight weeks of stretches, push-ups, skipping, sparring, weights and punch bags in order to be fighting fit on the night.
Training got underway on Monday night at St Joseph’s Doora Barefield’s redeveloped facilities at Gurteen. The training sessions will continue at Ennis Boxing Club in Chapel Lane, the spiritual home of Clare boxing, which this year celebrates 50 years in existence.
According to a spokesperson, the event “enables the hosts, Clare Crusaders and Ennis Chamber, to continue their services to disabled children and to promoting and enhancing the local economy respectively. Sponsors have an opportunity to be associated with the most sought after event of the year and the people of Clare enjoy a fantastic eight weeks of excitement and interest, culminating in the fever-pitched exhilaration and entertainment of Fight Night. There are no losers in this boxing event, it’s winners all the way.”