Boxers ready for international challenge

FOUR contenders from Downend Boxing Club are flying out to an international competition in February.

The Golden Girl Championships take place in Borås, Sweden, from February 3 to 5.

The International female box cup features 300 contenders from 22 nations in various age, experience and weight classes.

Making her international debut will be 10-year-old Lacey Holloway, who takes part in the diploma section which, under Swedish rules, does not allow power punching for children under 15 years old: the winner is decided on skills and technical ability.

Sixteen-year-old Mya Das seeks to add to her National Novice title alongside clubmate Alexa Smith, 18, who is returning following a break from competition.

Jasmine Poole, 22, is also competing abroad for the first time, and is tipped to do well following great performances at last summer's Riviera Box Cup in Torbay.

Preparations began on January 15 at a very cold Clevedon Marine Lake, where the incredibly brave Downend coaches Tracey Hayne and Claire Holloway braved the sleet and bitter cold to raise funds to travel to Sweden with a sponsored cold-weather swim.

The temperature was 5 degrees Celsius as the two intrepid ladies entered the water - their amazing effort raised £800 for the trip.