September 25th 2009

Development officer appointed for Central London area

ABAEnews
Community Sports Network, where
he was a Community Sports
Development Officer, running
projects engaging with hard to reach
community groups, typically from
BME backgrounds, and increasing
their capacity to deliver sports
activities.
Dylan currently volunteers as an
assistant coach at Fulham Brunswick
Amateur Boxing Club, and although
he’s never competed in the ring, he
had three years’ boxing training
while working in Japan.
As well as being a big fan of boxing,
Dylan plays most sports, with his
favourites being tennis, basketball
and snowboarding.
His role will involve supporting and
The newsletter MEET Dylan Cox, the new Boxing
of the Amateur developing an area of London with a
Development Officer for Central
Boxing vast and varied boxing community.
London. Dylan joins the ABAE
Association of Yo u c a n e m a i l D y l a n a t
England development ranks from London
coxd4@lsbu.ac.uk
The club accept the award from ABAE Chief Executive Paul King

The road to 2012 begins for assessment camp boxers

BOXERS from all over the
country are gathered at the
English Institute of Sport in
Sheffield this weekend, as a
final selection assessment camp
takes place.
Coaches Kelvyn Travis, Dave
Alloway, Nigel Davies, Jim
Davison and Richie Woodhall
are on hand to select new
candidates for the elite Great
Britain squad.
The boxers, among them some
familiar faces, have been
chosen after excelling at ABAE
championships and previous
assessment camps over the
summer. Watch this space.

ABAEnews Contact: hannah.mclafferty@abae.org.uk Deadline for next week’s issue - Wednesday 30th September
My life in amateur boxing - Gedol Wyn Roberts
As anyone who has ever
stepped into a boxing ring
will agree, it isn’t an
experience that can be easily
In 1955 I went into the
forgotten. Not least in the
days when boxing was
largely unregulated and the
rules that did exist were often
ignored. Former boxer Gedol
Wyn Rober ts shares
memories of fairground
booths, Geoff Capes and
Hitler’s boxing ring...
“I was born in January 1937 in a
small village on the West coast
of Wales, the youngest of four
children, losing my father at the
age of nine. Boxing was my
favourite sport and I would listen
to it on the radio. Most bouts
came from Haringey Arena; Joe
Louis, Bruce Woodcock, Freddy
Mills and Tommy Farr were all in
their prime at this time and I’d
paste their pictures from the
daily newspapers on my door.
In January 1952, when I
was fifteen, I left home to find a
job. I was accepted by the Great
West er n Railwa y in t he
locomotive department, and
posted to Slough as a locomotive
fireman. That’s when I joined the
Slough Boys Boxing Club.
With some training and
On my return to civvy
a few wins under my belt I
bought my first pair of boxing
boots, all black leather with
white laces. After I married I
would loop my wedding ring
through the top lace for good
luck.
Before being called up
for National Service, I took part
in boxing booths on fairs. One
that comes to mind is Eton Fair,
held in a sports field near
Windsor and run by Sam
McCrowns. I found the rules
questionable – low punching,
kidney punching and the use of
thumbs and heads were ignored
by the referee, and with three
loose ropes to stop you falling
out of the ring, rope burns
behind the knee were a common
occurrence. The going rate for
going the distance was £2 and
£3 for a win.
Army and fought many hard
bouts to get myself picked for the
regimental boxing team at
welterweight. Sparring partners
were in abundance on a
Monday morning when the
regimental police marched in
their defaulter’s for fighting in
the N.A.F.F.I. After too many
German lagers, they brought
their nasty streaks into the ring
and we taught them a lesson.
On 1st February 1957 I
won the light middleweight
I n d i v i d u a l O p e n B ox i n g
Championship of B.A.O.R. at the
sports stadium that Hitler had
built for the 1936 Olympic
Games in Berlin. To qualify for
the title I had to fight twice in hard bout, and the last round
one afternoon. Knocking out became a toe-to-toe slogging
both opponents from the Scottish match. To this day I can’t recall
Black Watch regiment, I went on receiving the trophy from the
to win on points in the evening assistant director of British Rail,
against Fusilier Adams of the or walking back to the dressing
Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Being in room – only the doctor asking
the team got us away from questions I couldn’t answer. On
guard duties and parades, and receiving back my medical book
we got extra food and travelled I noticed that the doctor had
q uit e ext ensivel y around made the entry – ‘Amnesia, 25
Germany to box various minutes’.
regiments. In qualifying for the
railway finals I was matched
street in 1957, and back to against WJ Stac k from
British Rail, I carried on training Leamington Spa. He had the
and in 1958 won the Great look of Freddy Mills and I knew
Western regional championship it was a matter of stepping into
in Newport at middleweight, the ring, not turning my back to
winning on points to a chap with him and being assisted out. He
the surname Salmon. It was a was a very good amateur boxer
 and eventually married into the
Turpin family.
In 1968 I joined Thames Valley
Police, which didn’t have a
boxing team. I carried on my
road runs, training at St Aldates
police station in Oxford, and was
privileged to use the facilities at
Royal Airforce Base Brize
Norton. I was their boxing team
sparring partner for some time.
At Eyensham Hall, while
During my 22 years in
doing my police training, I was
summoned by the PT Instructor to
go to the gym and meet a
sparring partner they’d found to
give me three rounds to prepare
me for a bout at Albert Hall a
few weeks later. When I got to
my corner I realised he was much
heavier than me, although he
was the same height. A few
seconds into the first round I
realised he had no previous
boxing experience. I could read
his eyes easily and used my
footwork to keep out of trouble.
Afterwards, he introduced himself
as Geoff Capes and said boxing
was his favourite sport, but that
he’d never make the grade as an
amateur. Geoff left the police to
pursue his shot putting career and
the rest is history.
professional boxer, as my coach.
the Thames Valley Police I
represent ed t hem against
Scotland, Wales, Ireland,
Germany and Italy. I took part in
sports club tournaments in most
towns in the Home Counties
where boxers like Henry Cooper
would present the trophies. He
once told me that he was sure I
had enough cups to clean and
why not go for an electric blanket
or a canteen of cutlery. I took his
advice and now I’m glad that I
did.
In February 1975 I won
t he Home Counties light
heavyweight title against F
Johnson of the Luton Irish Club on
points, but eventually lost the final
on points. After the Home
Counties win I was fortunate
enough to have Percy Lewis, a
Percy kept a betting shop in
Oxford.
Though I called it a day aged 38
due to an eye injury, I look back
on my amateur boxing days
fondly, they were very enjoyable.
The sport kept me fit and stood
me in good stead during my
police career.
I’d recommend this sport to any
youngster.

Knockout award for Tamworth Amateur Boxing Club

TAMWORTH Amateur Boxing
Club has struck lucky with the
announcement of a £224,648
funding award from the Big
Lottery Fund.
The club will use the grant from
the BIG’s Reaching Communities
programme to develop its
CHOICES (Creating Health
Options, Inclusive Core and
Extended Services) project.
The club will continue its existing
service providing boxing training
sessions and will also offer a
range of new activities designed
to improve health, fitness,
community cohesion and active
lif esty les. Through t he
employment of a business
development manager and
coach, the organisation aims to
further meet community need
and develop new activities.
Alan Keast, coach, said:
“Tamworth Amateur Boxing Club
is knocked out by the news that
the Big Lottery Fund application
has been successful. The local
c o m m u n i t y w i l l b e n e fi t
enormously from the club’s
ability to be able to extend its
services, giving everyone an
opportunity to become more
active and get involved. The club
celebrates its 40th year of ”This is great news for the
existence this year and will be people of Tamworth, punching
celebrating this with added home the message that Lottery
passion given the recent funding makes a big difference
tremendous news.” to communities. In particular, this
The club will also offer classes to grant will help the club address
adults aged 50 and over to the health and fitness needs of
improve mobility and fitness, and people of all ages and abilities.”
run special toddler fitness
sessions. It will work
closely with local football
clubs who benefit from the
delivery of fitness classes
to improve core stability
and endurance. The club
will also work with new
parents – such as offering
fitness walks with prams –
and Scouts, Brownies and
youth clubs.
Aquaboxercise classes will
be held for people with
special needs. Training
and volunteering
opportunities within the
community will also be
established as part of the
project. People will also
be able to request
individual training
packages.
John Taylor, Big Lottery
Fund Head of Region for
the West Midlands, said:
Chef rustles up healthy treats at Navy boxing camp

THE FREE one day boxing
camp at RMR Tyne, Newcastle
will now include a healthy
cooking presentation. The
focus of the day will still be the
boxing session and boxing
specific circuit training, but
participants will not be going
home hungry as a Royal Navy
chef will be cooking up some
healthy eating treats for
participants to try and to take
home.
There are still places left on the
course so make sure you don’t
miss out.
During the camp forty young
boxers will be given a unique
flavour of life as a top boxer in
the Royal Navy. The day is
open to 13 to 16 year olds on
Thursday 29th October.
Participants will receive special
coaching from the cream of the
Royal Navy boxing team,
before being put through their
paces by one of the Royal
Navy’s top physical training
instructors. Participants will
also receive a t-shirt and lunch.
Fill in a registration form and
send it in by the 1st October.
For further information about
the Royal Navy’s ABA boxing
camp please download the
form or contact Chris Smith on
0207 261 8866 or email
royalnavyboxing@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Foundation grant boost for Attleborough Amateur Boxing Club

ATTLEBOROUGH Amateur
Boxing Club received a boost
this week, after securing a
Norfolk Community Foundation
Grant of £2000 for much
needed boxing equipment.
Jeremy Burton, club chairman,
said: “This equipment is a boost
for the club, it will help our
members reach the
next competitive level of the
sport and in particular will be
used for the club's first boxing
show, which takes place on 5th
December at the Connaught
Hall in Attleborough. With
many club members already
training hard for the new
season, this grant has come at
just the right time.
“Membership of the club sessions for women, youngsters, members of all abilities always
continues to thrive and to date juniors, seniors and men.” welcome at the club.  
membership numbers are now Subscription fees at the club For more details take a look at:
over 115. The club's training are deliberately kept low so www.attleboroughamateurboxi
programme runs over six days that the club's boxing gym is ngclub.co.uk or telephone
a week and includes specific available to all, with new Jeremy Burton on:
07770 886732