Dedication pays off for teenager Amelia

Amelia takes the train twice a week to attend sessions at the Barum gym in Barnstaple. A five hour round trip (when the trains run on time) means she sometimes doesn’t get back home until near midnight still soaked in sweat from the strenuous training and sparring.
It all paid off for Amelia as the 16 year old gained her revenge over opponent Libby Frost (Bearstown ABC ) at the Manchester Box Cup via a unanimous decision in the under 63 kg weight class.
Libby had notched a contentious win on her home show previously, but this time on neutral ground Amelia showed her class and caught the judges eye with her well placed combinations and slick defence. Head trainer Gavin Lane was pleased to see the improvement in her jab which kept Libby at arms length and the follow up right hands that were accurate and hurtful.
Next up for Amelia is a trip with the club to Ireland to participate in the Emerald Box Cup where she will meet the cream of Ireland's junior female pugilists later this month.
Barum Amateur Boxing Club’s other female representatives also struck gold at the prestigious event over the weekend.
Keira Foster, 14, went one better than her previous bout in July at the Hull Box cup where she won silver, by beating Lilia Hume from the Washington Amateur Boxing Club to win the gold medal in the under 48 kg category.
Although she won by split decision, meaning the two of the three judges saw Keira winning, head trainer Lane was convinced she had won all three rounds clearly in a fast paced bout which saw Keira score well to Hume’s head and body.