WELSH BOXING AIM TO IMPROVE ON GOLD COAST TALLY
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer, Welsh Boxing has revealed it is aiming to improve on its medal tally from four years ago.
Performance Director Chris Type and Wales National Coach Colin Jones today spelt out how a full-time, residential programme for Welsh Boxing is reaping the rewards in the ring.
In the last three years, Welsh Boxing’s fortunes have flourished. Lauren Price became Wales’ first ever World Champion and first-ever Olympic Champion. And Welsh boxers have won medals from the Senior and Under 22 European Championships.
Performance Director Chris Type said:
“Currently, we have the highest number of boxers we’ve ever had on the GB programme – Wales makes up 20% of the programme - and the majority of those are on the highest level of support. That’s an astonishing piece of the pie for a small nation.”
Welsh boxers returned home from the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with four medals, led by Lauren Price who made history by becoming Wales’ first female boxer to win gold.
But despite the impressive two golds, a silver and a bronze from Welsh boxers in Australia, national coach Colin Jones is confident they can improve on the tally in Birmingham.
“In the Gold Coast, we were incredibly proud of what we achieved and the results actually put Wales fourth on the boxing medal table,” says Jones who became British, Commonwealth and European welterweight champion.
Lauren Price of course wont feature for Wales this summer after turning professional but Jones remains upbeat about Wales’ chances:
“We’re very ambitious and we think we can improve on our achievements in the Gold Coast. And that’s really down to the fact that seven years ago we completely redesigned our programme. We’ve been able to achieve a full time, residential programme at the Sport Wales National Centre for boxers that aren’t yet part of the GB set-up.
“Before this, our boxers were spread out across Wales and we’d meet up at camps but now it’s much more consistent and we are with the boxers week in, week out,” ,” adds Jones, who stays on site with the boxers from Monday to Thursday.
Chris Type – who came into post as Performance Director seven years ago – added:
“We have so much more contact time with the boxers now. It means our best boxers are with the best coaches. Colin leads the boxing side of the programme and his vast knowledge and understanding of what it takes to develop a boxer to international level is quite incredible.”
Working alongside Sport Wales’ Institute team, Welsh Boxing ensures its talents are managing nutrition, lifestyle, sleep patterns and weight management:
“You don’t see all this on the day of the competition but it’s absolutely critical in developing a brilliant boxer,” adds Type.
Rosie Eccles – who won silver at the last Commonwealth Games in the 69kg category – said the full time, residential programme has had a huge positive impact:
“It’s been a game changer. I was 18 when I first came on to the programme - we had regular weekend camps but it was never enough. From the age of 19, we’ve had a full-time programme in place. It means we get top quality training and coaching week in, week out. We train three times a day with a mix of running, strength training and sparring.
“Colin has created a really good culture where we all work really hard. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him and the programme that Welsh Boxing has created. The success in terms of the numbers of boxers from Wales on the GB programme just speaks for itself.”