Last year the boys who had graduated to become seniors won the championships. This year saw the young girls take over?
Last year, the story of the championships was the ?Class of 97? the boys who had graduated to become seniors and won the championships. This year saw the young girls take over. Ebonie Jones (Army), Ellie Scotney (Nemesis) and Shona Whitwell (St Ives) were all decorated youths who won their first Elite Championships. Scotney and Whitwell were mentioned as prospects for 2020 when looking at what the GB team will be. They proved it last weekend.
Whitwell, an elusive southpaw, defeated Kate Flynn (No Limits) in the opening round. Then it was Sandy Ryan (GB), the experienced international competitor who she beat. In the final she edged a split decision win against Louise Orton (GB). Scotney won as an unseeded boxer beating former champion Nina Hughes (Chadwell St Marys) comfortably in the final. Jones was one of three novices to the tournament in her weight. She beat out Tysie Gallagher (Harrow) before a comfortable victory over Emma Dolan (Lowestoft) who had herself shocked reigning champion Ramla Ali (GB).
The only male winner from the 1998 born boxers was Mo Harris Akbar (Bradford Police). His path was made easier by Cyrus Pattinson (GB) not competing. He still had a difficult route, defeating William Le Poullain (GB) and Joseph Laws (Birtley) in a great final. Laws hurt him late on but it was not enough to stop his young opponent. Day one and two saw Laws engage in brilliant wars defeating Jack Rafferty (Centurions) and Luke Fisher (Navy).
Laws was one of a few Birtley boxers who impressed, showing why it tends to be rated the best club in the country. Luke McCormack (GB) followed in the footsteps of brother Pat from a few years ago when dominating his division. He beat two top ten ranked opponents in Elliot Whale (Nemesis) and Martin McDonagh (GB). Thomas Hodgson (Birtley) won the 60kg division as an unseeded boxer winning every contest by a split decision. He beat Stephen Rolf (Retford) before upsetting number one seed Mason Smith (GB) and then finally Callum Thompson (Tower Hill), himself a 98 boy.
A couple of the ?class of 97? managed to repeat in Kieran MacDonald (GB) and Ben Whittaker (GB). Cheavon Clarke (GB), Steph Wroe (Army), Natasha Gale (GB) and Demi-Jade Resztan (New Astley) also repeated successes from last year. Lisa Whiteside (GB) won her seventh title while Cherrelle Brown (GB) made it a third consecutive title when edging Paige Murney (GB) by a split decision. Niall Farrell (GB) was another ?97 born boxer to experience success, never really looking in too much trouble over the weekend, even in defeating Blane Hyland (Sailsbury) in the final. Nathan Brown (Hooks) may have been the one to take from the weight before a cut stopped him in the first round. Jack Hillier (Southampton) had a great chance to add to that in the 56kg division after number one seed Chris Bourke (GB) went out to dangerous Shabaz Masoud (Wellington). Instead it was Louis Lynn (Nemesis) who did not let Hillier get into a war who got the gold.
Another London winner came in the 86kg division which returned to the competition in James Branch (Repton) edging out perennial bridesmaid Bryce Goodridge (Basingstoke). Solomon Dacres (GB) showed his power when stopping Joshua Quailey (One Nation) who had himself been impressive in the heavyweight division. George Crotty (Navy) also fulfilled all his promise when stopping Tom Whittaker Hart (GB) from adding his name to the repeat champions.
