Jobstown Boxing Club's six Irish internationals are preparing to represent Ireland at the U15 and U23 European Championships in Turkey and Croatia
Jobstown sends record six boxers to European C’ships
JOBSTOWN Boxing Club are sending an unprecedented six fighters to take place in European Championships this year with two members heading out in the U15’s championships and four members selected for the U23 Championships.
Blake Feagan and Ava Mulhall both are representing Jobstown and Ireland in Trabzon in Turkey across the week at the U15 Championships after flying out last Thursday evening.
The pair are both multiple time Irish Champions with this being their first step up to a competition of this level. Coach Amanda Spencer touched on the preparations for the pair and their attitude heading into the tournament.
“They’ve both been on a bit of a winning streak with back to back Irish titles over the past three years.
‘They are feeling confident and have had a good training camp. Every Saturday with the Irish team and a full week with us.
‘They are ready and prepared. They’re as ready as they’ll ever be right now. The Europeans are massive for them so it’s a big step up for them.”
Spencer also described the training camps that not only the U15’s fighters have undertaken but the U23’s also.
“Sparring constantly, more activity with a lot of cardio, running and endurance training.
‘They’ve upped their game as well. They are only kids so you don’t want to put too much pressure on them.
‘It’s their first Europeans, they are only little kids and hopefully this is the pathway for the rest of their life.”
The U23’s head to Porec, Croatia later on in the month and will fight into November with Gabrielle Mongan, Tiffany Spencer, Josh Olaniyan and Tadgh O’Donnell all competing.
Jobstown had three fighters compete in last year’s Europeans where Tiffany Spencer managed a bronze medal.
Coach Amanda Spencer touched on the different attitude that the club has taken towards camp ahead of this year’s tournament.
“They do three days in Sport Ireland and then three days with us. Six days training with test matches at the end of the week.
‘They’ve upped their game. We’ve changed the camps and put more intensity into the training.
‘They’ve had a lot more bouts than the previous year. They’ve done much more sparring.
‘Left no stone unturned. It’s the ring activity. You can train all day but if you don’t get in the ring at the end of the week for at least six weeks before it.
‘That’s why you need the test matches. No winner or loser they just put them in high calibre boxers so whether they would’ve won or lost that bout they will learn from it.”
With six boxers representing Jobstown Boxing Club across the continent in the coming weeks, Spencer touched on what it meant for the club.
“11 years old this year, since July. I was looking at the history of boxing around Tallaght and I don’t think there’s ever been six boxers going to a European Championship in the one cycle.
‘There’s been boxers here and there. We have consistently over 11 years been sending boxers to European Championships every single year.”
