AN AMATEUR boxing club has held its annual awards ceremony, celebrating a successful but much shorter season.

Carlisle Villa ABC held their annual awards ceremony at the Upperby Men’s Institute.

This year saw more than 30 boxers registering to compete for The Villa with another. ex-boxer Matty Hand, re-joining the club as a coach adding to an already high level group of ex-boxers who carry out these coaching duties voluntarily.

Head Coach Jimmy Brennan who is also a Class A referee, Class C judge Freddie Rowland and Major Panel judge George Graves have been busy representing the club and region officiating on shows and championships all over the country.

Although the season was cut short by the coronavirus outbreak, Villa were still able to compete in over 80 contests on over 50 shows across England and Scotland, hosting a successful home show at the Crown & Mitre Hotel in November where 17 bouts took place to sell-out crowd with Villa boxers featuring in all bouts. The club saw success at regional level winning three North West titles and Marc Haughan went on to take the 70kg junior development title with a win against Dagenham’s Sony Flack on the National stage.

Club coaches were commended for their dedication and thanks were given to family and friends of the club for their help throughout the year. A special thank you went out to club sponsor Mike Lightfoot of Northern Construction & Security Ltd who has provided the boxers with training kit and ring wear once again this season.

Villa boxers, family and friends were updated on the success of the club outside of the ring with plans for re-development of the gymnasium still ongoing.

The extension of the gym will provide the boxers and the community with an improved facility to train and keep fit.

With plenty of boxers showing promise, Carlisle Villa ABC are looking forward to this coming season once restrictions are lifted.

In the meantime the doors are open for the boxers to keep up their fitness levels. Awards were presented by the Villa's longest serving member and club secretary Brian Sanderson who has been at the Club since the 1980s.