HOLMES Chapel Boxing Club has thanked everyone for their support in paving the way for the club’s imminent move to a purpose-built gym.
The club is based at Active Fitness behind Goostrey Home and Leisure, and more than 200 people attended January’s launch event.
The club was set up in response to requests from the community, with the aim to expand into the adjoining unit and have a dedicated room for boxing with the right training equipment.
That ambition is set to become a reality in the next few weeks, with the club due to move into a purpose-built gym featuring a ring, punch bags, gym flooring and mirrors.
Youth boxers after a technical sparring session
The conversion of the building next to the club’s current base has cost £12,000, and the gym has been made possible thanks to the support of businesses and the community.
The club is led by Kevin and Zoe Brownlow, Mark Milward and Helen Cliff.
Kevin thanked Duttons contractors and Flowcrete for their support, as well as sponsorship from parents and community groups.
He said: “Since the launch event we have been running regular classes for 10 to 16-year-olds.
“With such a positive response and limited facilities we have had to limit each boxer to one session per week.
Junior boxers training hard
“This is not ideal when we are trying to build a squad but the only way to deliver classes for as many people as possible.
“In the background the coaching team and committee have been working hard to develop the club and get the gym ready.
“We have added two additional coaches; Kerry Chalk is a former Thai Boxer and James Rice boxed as a schoolboy in Liverpool.
“Both bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm and are their England Boxing coaching qualifications in preparation for the 2019/20 season. James is also project managing the works to get us into the new gym.
“There has been a huge amount of work. It has taken a lot of effort and money, but we are almost there. The support from parents, community groups and local businesses has been amazing.
Coach John Brundrett
“The current boxers will hopefully be using the new gym in the next couple of weeks.
“We can then spend the next few weeks before summer working out how best to use the space for the squad before a formal opening event in September celebrating the effort of the boxers and thanking everyone who has helped make it happen.
“Before then there is the Holmes Chapel Village Fair on July 7.
The club will have a stall, sharing our story and making details available of how the community can get involved from September.
“In addition to the club providing competitive boxing for boys, girls, men and women we will also work with local charities to deliver specialist classes to support positive mental health, hard to reach groups and disability boxing.
“We are on track to achieve our goal of charitable status within two years.”
For more details visit Holmes Chapel Boxing Club on Facebook, @boxingchapel on twitter or email hcboxingclub@gmail.com
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