Downpatrick boxing club fighting fit for the future

25 January 2012

PEGASUS Amateur Boxing Club is going from strength to strength and revelling in its new premises at the Ballymote Well-being Centre.

The club is a hive of activity and is always busy. It is open five nights a week and on Sundays at 1.30pm.

It also runs ladies’ only sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm as well as an open night on Friday nights at 7pm.

As well as training Pegasus boxers, club coaches have also recently trained Portaferry hurlers and the footballers from Ballyvange to take part in fundraising boxing shows.

Coaches are currently engaged training members of Downpatrick GAC for their forthcoming boxing show. The club is always looking for new members and if you fancy trying boxing for competition or to get fit just call to club premises to find a night that suits your needs.

Last year, Pegasus hosted the Northern Ireland Girls’ and Boys’ Clubs Champion-ships and will be doing so again this year on May 12 and 13.

The new year kicks off for the club with the Antrim Schoolboy Novice Champ-ionships in St. Kevin’s Hall, Belfast on February 2, 3 and 4.

Boxers taking part for Pegasus are Eoin Dignam, Curtis Ward, Paul Ward and Steven Burke. There will be a lot of pressure on these boys in their first ever tournament, but they have all trained hard and should give good performances.

Then comes the Open Antrim Championships in which Pierce Crane and Dylan Duffy will be competing against the very best boxers from Antrim. Pierce Crane, who won this title last year and was runner-up in the All-Ireland Championships, will hope to lift the title again as will Dylan Duffy, former winner of the Antrim and 9 Counties Championships.

Former Pegasus boxer Paul Baker, winner of numerous Irish titles and Commonwealth bronze medal winner, is sparring both lads in preparation for their upcoming fights and is full of praise for their efforts.

February 24, 25 and 26 sees intermediate boxers Gary Flynn and Michael Flanagan go to Dublin to compete in the All-Ireland Championships.

Gary has picked up runner-up medals in Antrim and Ulster tournaments while Michael has won the Antrim title and both have high hopes in Dublin.

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