England Boxing’s Senior Performance Programme set for launch

England Boxing’s Senior Performance Programme is ready to launch following the conclusion of April’s England Boxing National Amateur Championships (NACs) 2023.

It aims to further develop Three Lions boxers in the adult age bracket, enabling them to continue working toward achieving their boxing aspirations, including winning a place on the GB World Class Programme.

Following this year’s NACs Finals Day at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, champion boxers and those successfully rated by England coaches will be invited to an assessment for the Senior Performance Programme, which will run alongside GB Boxing assessments.

Following these assessments in May and June, an England Senior squad for the 2023-24 period will then be chosen and announced on 19th June.

Between July and February, the squad will take part in a monthly training camp, an international training camp and competition prep camps while also having the opportunity to compete both nationally and internationally.

Throughout this period, GB will continue to run World Class Programme assessments as and when required, with England Boxing, where appropriate, able to nominate boxers to be assessed.

At the beginning of March, the programme will be reset and boxers released ahead of the next NACs cycle, where they will have the chance to win a place on the Senior Performance Programme for 2024-25, should they not be selected by GB Boxing.

The full launch of the programme follows on from a successful pilot programme (pictured above) that ran in the early part of this year and saw the boxers involved train and compete in Germany.

It forms part of a revised England Boxing Performance Pathway Strategy that includes a simplified two-level system (Performance and Development) for boxers of all age groups, as well as coaches.

“I am really pleased for us to be announcing an England Boxing Senior Performance Programme,” said England Boxing’s Head of Performance, Chris Connelly.

“For me, England Boxing should always have an Elite-level team, regularly training together and competing at international competition – flying the flag for England.

“For a long time, Senior boxers have not really had an avenue to continue boxing in the amateur ranks representing England. This programme therefore is aimed at further developing these boxers at Senior level, for them to continue working toward achieving their boxing aspirations.

“Our vision is to have the England Boxing Senior team compete internationally, train together regularly and receive leading sports science support. This, in turn, increases the amount of boxers, and better prepares them for progression onto the GB World Class Programme.

“Getting to this stage of launching the programme is a culmination of many months of planning and scoping from a lot of different people.

“A lot of hard work and effort has gone in, including a pilot squad at the beginning of the year and having the system and selection process ratified.

“Collaboration with our colleagues at GB Boxing has been invaluable and we will be working together to make the programme fit seamlessly into the pathway from England to GB.”

The Senior Performance Programme will be led by England Boxing’s Lead National Coach Amanda Coulson, who believes it will complement the existing structure.

She said: “To now be able to offer our members a pathway from Schools through to Senior level is fantastic. It will offer another dimension to boxers’ international experience and better prepare our English boxers for GB Boxing assessments and beyond.

“Having had our most successful medal haul year in 2022, it’s an additional programme added to our ever-evolving Performance Pathway where we continually look for opportunities to go from good to great.

“The Senior programme assessments will commence following the NAC finals and I personally cannot wait to get started and see what we can build. The future is looking bright for Seniors within England Boxing.”

The programme also has the backing of GB Boxing, with its Performance Director, Rob McCracken, saying: “To have an England Boxing Senior Programme in place will be an excellent and welcome addition to the pathway for boxers.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for England’s Elite to consistently train in a performance environment, while gaining invaluable international experience.

“In turn, it is also likely to improve both the standard and strength-in-depth of English boxers who are bidding to step up to the GB World Class Programme.”