This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mollet

Gage Demore in action against Hassain at the open show fight night at Beau Sejour. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0649541)

GUERNSEY boxing is in its best ever shape, according to Amalgamated Boys’ Club coach Graham Guilbert.

Its strength in depth was perfectly illustrated as its boxers staged a remarkable comeback to defeat a strong North of England select team from Manchester, Cumbria and the Isle of Man at Beau Sejour.

The victory came despite the absence of local favourite Matt Jennings due to a shoulder injury and hard-hitting Latvian Bruno Bigelis, who almost made the Beijing Olympics.

‘Guernsey boxing at the moment is going through a high. It’s in its best state ever and it’s getting a lot more coverage now,’ said Guilbert.

‘The standard is going up all the time and we need these big events. The coaching staff now are really up there with anywhere in the UK.’

There is no shortage of youngsters taking an interest in the sport.

‘We have about 30 lads training regularly now and we have had three or four juniors come up to the club in the last two or three weeks,’ said Guilbert.

‘Two of our older boxers said they have never seen the standard of boxing as good as it is now from the Guernsey boys.’

North of England select side head coach Steve Walshaw said that the recent team he brought to Guernsey was ‘very strong’ – possibly the second strongest ever to come to the island.

He is impressed by the rising standard of the opposition.

‘They [the Guernsey boxers] are getting better and better and it makes my job harder and harder.

‘The footwork, power and skill have all got better, The standards are very high compared to other boxing clubs and there are certainly boxing clubs in the UK not as good as Guernsey.’

He is also keen to see youngsters taking up the sport and showing their promise at big events.

‘I think the little kids come first rather than the big lads and they should be first in the paper,’ said Walshaw.

‘The event here is spectacular and the kids are amazed when they see the venue.

‘The lads love to come over and we get really well looked after. A big thanks to Graham [Guilbert] and to Paul [Ferbrache] and all the helpers and boxers.’

Jennings, former novice ABA heavyweight champion in 2000 and former and current Western Counties ABA cruiserweight title holder, was disappointed at having to miss an open show for the first time at Beau Sejour.

But he hopes to make his return to the ring at the next dinner show at St Pierre Park at the end of November,

‘The open show is a favourite of all the boxers and I would have really liked to have boxed on the night.

‘It’s frustrating not to be boxing and I can really look forward to boxing at the next one in February,’ he said.

He says that standards were improving.

‘All the lads are training a lot harder and there is a lot more effort and focus going in at the club.

‘The experience of older lads improves the standard of boxing because they bring on the novices by passing on knowledge through tips in training and themed sparring.

‘It’s definitely on the up.’

YOUNGSTERS such as St Peter Port schoolboy Gage Demore, 15, are hoping to emulate Jennings’ success at national level.

And Jennings wants to encourage more with aspirations in boxing to give it a try.

‘If there are any youngsters thinking of taking it up, they need to be dedicated in order to develop as a boxer,’ he advised. ‘There is a lot more interest from the younger lads because they see the older boxers doing well and want to follow in their footsteps.’

Demore will be competing in the Junior Novice ABA championships later this month. ‘Gage has really progressed a long way and has really knuckled down to his training. I have seen a vast improvement in him. He has shown he has got good skill, power and bottle and I think he has the ability to do the business.’

Ollie Bailey, 36, chief whip, who does the gloving with Dean Mourant, has been involved in Guernsey boxing for 15 years.

‘It’s brilliant and the boys are always well up for it.

‘The facilities [at the club in Saint’s Road] are the best they have been and there is more of an interest in boxing on the public side now and more and more can come and support the boys,’ he said.

‘The atmosphere is electric and the whole place goes up.’

Article posted on 11th October, 2008 - 9.29am