Shows
We held three very successful boxing shows at The Pill Memorial Club. They where well received and a great family night out of boxing. Many thanks go to Richard Alan at Pill for helping us host them. We had good results this season winning many bouts on our home shows, which was a turn around from the last Patchway show last season.
We competed in 56 bouts winning 36, which was a quiet season by NSC standards but was still a great set of results. Many clubs have said to me that it was their quietest season ever, I put this down to the amount of championships and the reluctance of some clubs to host shows in difficult financial times. After taking a breather this season we have four shows planned for the coming season, three at the Pill Memorial Club and one at a new venue for us at Henbury Social Club. As a club we all need to help sell tickets, some of the boxers and parents have been fantastic in helping sell tickets, although we didn’t make much financially from the shows, their efforts saved use from losing a lot of money that we haven’t got at present. I was hoping that we could take the boxers away on a training camp this summer but due to the lack of return on the shows I don’t think that’s going to be possible this year unless something turns up.
Proposed Show Dates & Venues
Oct 7th @ Pill
Nov 18th @ Henbury Social Club
March 10th @ Pill
May 19th @ Pill
Boxers & Coaches
The ‘Smelters’ boxers have been an absolute pleasure to coach and match this season.
Jerry Connors won his first Western Counties Title and was unlucky in the quarters, where he lost on a count back it was that tight a bout. We supported lots of other clubs shows and I’m told by many matchmakers we’re at the top of their matching list due to our reputation for being a very reliable club. We presently have a squad of 20 carded boxers and will be adding another six or more new boxers by the start of the season. One of the highlights of the season for me was the return of Jeff & Reece from Derby back to NSC. It’s taken a lot of the burden off my shoulders knowing I have Jeff as back up in the gym and to take boxers to shows. We have just put four of our boxers on the ABAe leader’s course, Sam Fitzgerald, Sam Smyth, Tyler Davies & Reece-Godfrey-Sharp and I’m hopeful they’ll go on to coach as well as box for the club. We have some very talented boxers in the club and after years of developing them I’m expecting them to really fulfil their potential this coming season. Many have won Western County titles and I’m confident that this season the club will win many more. I’m really looking forward to the start of the new season.
The New Smelters Gym
It still puts a big smile on my face every time I open the doors to our new gym. Thankfully after a bit of teething trouble we’ve been able to make it available to other clubs also. Avonmouth Rugby Club regularly use it for circuit training and the kick boxers use it Tuesday’s so it in use every night of the week now. The most important thing for me is the gym is always busy with boxers training; we regularly get 30 and even 40 plus on a training night during the season and with the new gym we have the room and equipment to make all their training enjoyable. We have an official opening of the gym tonight and it is great to see, most of the people that made it happen here. A special thanks to Mark Shackell for putting it up for us, Roger Eady for helping get us secure the majority of the funding and our Club President Charlotte Leslie and now the local MP for officially opening it for us tonight.
The boxers, coaches and I would like to thank all the members of the committee for their efforts over the last season. I would like to say a very special thanks to my wife and Club Sec & Treasurer Beckie Cave for putting up with me and all the boxing mither last season which was the most challenging to say the least. Bec spent hours sorting our club accounts out, posters and tickets and many more hours half listening to me going on and on about boxing and the gym. A special mention for top trophy supplier and our clubs main sponsor again for this coming season Declan Harrington who has provided the club boxers with team tracksuits and all our trophies for the shows and awards. Many thanks Deccy your continued generosity is very much appreciated. I’d like to also say a huge thanks to our MC Steve Kenyon, Steve just does the business year after year, not only for us but for other clubs that aren’t as fortunate as the NSC to have such a great MC.
Last but certainly not least the boxers and their families deserve a massive round of applause for all their dedication, sportsmanship, teamwork and performances both in and out the ring. The NSC boxers have more than ever done this club, their families and themselves proud. They have, as always and even more so this year made me very proud to say I’m the NSC Head Coach.
Yours in sport
Garry Cave
NSC ABC Head Coach
