Page 26 - The Bugle 2018

CO and RSM with the boxers
Boxing
Now in my second year as 1 RIFLES Boxing Officer, it was clear that after the resounding success of the 2017 Inter Company Boxing Championship we needed to find a date in 2018 to hold another competition. With the Battalion FOE in constant flux this proved more difficult than I first thought, but finally we settled on the last week in May 2018 and preparation and planning began.
I held a small planning conference at end of November 2017 with SSgt Bruce RAPTC so I could publish a Warning Order (WO) prior to the deployment on Ex ASKARI STORM, providing the Companies with key dates, coaches, outline training plans, and guidance on documentation. On return from Kenya I held a central meeting with all the coaches and managers as there were concerns on training time due to commitments and leave, and I briefed them on how the split boxing training programme would work, which was:
All the Companies formed up their boxing teams on the 12 March, many of them with large squads with the view they would be whittled down to 10 fighters by the time H Jones came around. As always, the nearer the competition loomed the higher the attrition rate of boxers dropping out, making teams smaller and smaller. Those that did drop out was because of other commitments and medical failures
rather than the lack of desire to fight.
Despite all the friction affecting the teams a total of
36 boxers across eight weight categories, weighed in ready to fight the morning of the competitions. This provided 13 preliminary bouts on Tuesday, a further 13 semi-final bouts on Wednesday and eight bouts in the final on Thursday. All fights were well supported in both the preliminary and semi-final rounds and of course there were, some real ‘toe to toe’ battles worthy of a final.
With the gymnasium transformed to a fight arena, programmes printed, and S Company ahead with a decent lead, the finals night was upon us with eight fights on the card. The audience was truly enter- tained with a very high standard of boxing, deter- mination and personal courage, which for most was their first time in this overwhelming and sometimes frightening stage.
In the end it was S Company who lifted the Inter Company Boxing trophy, with Rfn Goodfellow winning best boxer which was decided by the Boxing Officer and all the coaches. The Commanding Officer selected Rfn Robinson versus Rfn Davies as the outstanding fight on the night.
The following week Rfn Haskins took Rfn Lewis (S Coy) and Rfn Robinson (B Coy) to the Army Individual Boxing Championships in Aldershot. Rfn Robinson felt unwell and was sadly beaten in the early stages, but Rfn Lewis got to the semi-finals with a great first round knockout on the way. It proved to be a great experience for both the boxers and coaches and good preparation for next year’s competition, depending on deployments.
Capt Andy Rainey MC, R ANGLIAN
OC Boxing
OF COURSE THERE WERE, SOME REAL ‘TOE TO TOE’ BATTLES WORTHY OF A FINAL
12 - 29 Mar:
29 Mar - 16 Apr: 16 - 28 Apr:
30 Apr - 04 May: 7 - 26 May:
Boxing begins concentrating on basic skills (3 weeks) Easter Leave
Part Time boxing Training (2 weeks)
H Jones competition (All boxers to participate)
Full time boxing Training (3 weeks)
The final bouts were:
Light-Weight Light-Welterweight Welterweight Middle Light-Heavyweight Cruiserweight Heavyweight Super-Heavyweight
Final Results:
Best Boxer
Best Bout
Boxing Champions Runners up
Rfn Goodfellow (C) W v Rfn Roberts (C) W v Rfn Hamilton (C) v Rfn Rowland (S) v Cpl Cherry (A) W v Rfn Robinson (S) W v Rfn B Lewis (HQ) W v LCpl Sinclair (C) W v
Rfn Goodfellow
Rfn Robinson v S Company
B Company
Rfn Meadow (B) Rfn Hopwoood (B) Rfn Martin (B) W Rfn Robinson (B) W Walk Over
Rfn Davies (HQ) Cpl J Lewis (HQ) LCpl Andrews (S)
Rfn Davies
32 FIRST BATTALION
THE RIFLES
Super Heavyweight;L/Cpl Sinclair v L/Cpl Andrews