Itauma and Richardson among those at Excel boxers Training Day
February 25, 2019 | by Matt Halfpenny
Olympic Youth Games champion Karol Itauma and World Youth Champion Gemma Richardson were among the Excel boxers to attend Sunday’s (20th January) England Talent Training Day.
The session at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield was the first get-together of the year for several of the country 2018 global tournament medallists.
It was a chance for the boxers to be introduced to the England Talent Programme’s new coaches, have a sparring session and discuss Individual Athlete Programme’s (IAPs).
Performance Coach Mick Driscoll was absent as he had travelled to the Netherlands to receive his award as the EUBC’s Best Male Coach, but he still introduced the day via Skype, looking back on last year and forward to what needed to be done to achieve more success in 2019.
Assistant Performance Coaches Ivan Cobb and John Stubbs led a feedback session on what boxers thought had gone well at competitions and in training, and what could be improved.
The sparring saw 20 Excel boxers and 22 guests from across the country, including a number of other Talent Pathway Boxers, get in the ring.
It ensured that each individual was given a thorough workout, with participants split into nine groups, ranging from junior girls at 46kg to elite men at 91kg+.
Excel boxers then sat down with their own club coaches and England Boxing staff to go through their specific AIPs.
“I was really pleased with how the day went and we have had very positive feedback from the boxers, saying they found it very useful,” said Stubbs.
“It was also a useful exercise for all the coaches – both from clubs and England – to sit down with the boxers and look at where they can improve from a technical, psychological and personal point of view.”
