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17/12/2007

Team Manager's report from Ireland

UNDER 19's ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT
BALLYBOFEY, CO. DONEGAL, IRELAND
14^th - 16^th DECEMBER 2007

Team Manager Billy Phillips

Coaches  Dave Alloway, Dave Sadler, Kevin Hay

Referee/Judges  Sandy Mathewson, Mik Basi

Boxers: 

Oscar Webb 51 kg 
Bradley Evans 54 kg 
Ian Weaver 57 kg 
Robbie Davis 60 kg 
Ronnie Hefron 64 kg 
Scott Cardle 69 kg 
Kirk Garvey 75 kg 
Alfie Sackey 81 kg

The Team were met at Stansted Airport with the exception of Scott Cardle and Ronnie Heffron who flew from Blackpool; their flight arrived 30 minutes before the rest of the team and as we were met by the Irish A.B.A. this caused no problems. However, unfortunately due to a mix-up (the National Stadium in Dublin was double-booked) the tournament was moved to Ballybofey, which meant a coach trip of more than 3 hours.

On arrival at Ballybofey the boxers had to be weighed in immediately as the Irish A.B.A. had already agreed with the French and German teams that there would only be one weigh-in, with a kilo allowance. The Irish officials also said that the boxers would only have to see the doctor once. I disputed this stating that as the boxers would have to box up to 3 times they had to see a doctor before each bout. This was agreed by the other teams.

Accommodation

The team stayed in the Jackson's Hotel which was more than adequate. An added bonus was that the tournament was held in the hotel's large function room.

Coaches

The coaches were first class and it was good to work with Dave Alloway again. He never gets stressed and has a calming influence with the boxers. Having Dave Sadler in the team gave us an opportunity to have G.B. and England coaches working together. I don't agree they should be kept separate, we all need to work together for the improvement of our great sport. This is the second time I have worked with Kevin Hay and have seen great strides in his confidence and ability. I believe he will very soon be ready to head a team of his own.

Conduct and performance of the boxers

Three of the boxers did not have their ME3s with them, so I could not enter their bouts; they were Robbie Davies, Ronnie Heffron and Alfie Sackie.

Robbie Davies had a damaged cheek so as a precaution he was taken to hospital for an x-ray. The cheek was badly bruised so he was not allowed to box against the German on the last day.

At this point I have to bring up that fact that with these young athletes having to box 3 times in 3 days I find it inconceivable that a physiotherapist or doctor was not part of the team for this particular trip; most of the boxers were marked up (see photos) and aching. Unfortunately, the tournament doctor had never worked at a boxing tournament before and had no idea what to do. Of course the coaches and I did as much as we could, but as these young athletes are our sport's future I believe they should have the care they deserve!

I have to praise the behaviour of all the boxers in the team - they are a credit to their parents, respective clubs and the country. 

Other Matters

Due to the long journey back to Dublin Airport we were up at 3.15 am on Monday 17^th December. There were no problems and the flights were on time. It was a most enjoyable trip and, most importantly, the boxers performed well.

Results

14/12/2007 - England -v- Ireland

51 Kgs: Oscar Webb -v- Tyrone McCullagh - The Irish lad was southpaw and Oscar kept our or range but was 2-4 down after the first round. 6-7 after the 2^nd round and Oscar needed to up his work rate. The Irish lad had more determination and was 11-9 at the end of the 3^rd and just edged it with a 12-11 points win over Oscar Webb.

54 Kgs: Bradley Evans -v- John Joe Nevin - Nevin is a class counter-punch boxer and was 4-2 up after the first round, 13-5 after the 2^nd and 19-5 at the end of the 3^rd. Bradley never stopped trying until the end of the bout but Nevin ran out a comfortable winner.

57 Kgs: Ian Weaver -v- Mark McCullagh - Nip and tuck with the Irish lad 4-2 up at the end of the 1^st. Ian had a better 2^nd round finishing 7-6 down. Ian's more correct punching showed through in the 3^rd and they went into the 4^th at 10-10. Ian should have gone in front but lost 16-14.

60 Kgs: Robbie Davies -v- Ray Moylett - Although this was a fairly even contest Robbie was 5-2 down after the 1^st. He was connecting with good body shots which never registered leaving him 10-5 down going into the 3^rd round. Robbie had a terrific 3^rd round scoring to the head and body and had now edged in front at 13-12. He won the last round but lost 17-16 - Bad Decision!

64 Kgs: Ronnie Heffron -v-John Murray - Ronnie was far too strong for the Irish lad and was 14-4 up at the end of the 1^st round. Murray tried to turn the tide in the 2^nd but Ronnie was hitting him at will; the Irish corner retired Murray. A wise decision.

75 Kgs: Kirk Garvey -v- Stephen O'Reilly - This was a good contest between 2 upright boxers. A very close 1^st round with Ireland up 3-2. O'Reilly's better work rate put him 7-5 up going into the 3^rd and 8-7 at the start of the 4^th. Final result 9-7 to Ireland - very evenly matched boxers.

81 Kgs: Alfie Sackie -v- Tommy McCarthy - Alfie was waiting far too long to unload and paid the price. He started the 2^nd round 7-1 down, finishing the round 15-3, even though the Irish lad's slapping was registering with the judges. Referree stopped the contest in the 3^rd.

14/12/2007 - England -v- France

51 Kgs: Oscar Webb -v- Wahid Belaora - Oscar was up against a good boxer with very fast hands and a good counter-punch. Although he pushed him all the way in the 1^st he was 9-5 behind. The Frenchman went up a gear in the 2^nd catching Oscar with good combinations to lead 21-8 at the start of the 3^rd round and 28-12 at the end of it. France finally won 34-15 but Oscar was not disgraced it was a game performance.

54 Kgs: Bradley Evans -v- Alexandre Vandendreisch - This was a cracking bout with Bradley scoring well to the body. England won the bout 17-11 - A good win.

57 Kgs: Ian Weaver -v- Jude Mambu - Ian had to try to get close to his much taller opponent and a close 1^st round ended 3-3. Ian upped his work rate in the 2^nd catching Mambu with right hands to lead 11-3. Keeping up the pressure Ian finished the 3^rd round 13-5 and winning comfortably with a final score of 20-11. A quality performance.

15/12/2007 - England -v- France

60 Kgs: - Robbie Davies -v- Chabane Fehim - A scrappy 1^st round with the Frenchman edging in front at 5-4. Much the same in the 2^nd with France now 9-7 and 11-9 at the end of the 3^rd. Robbie lost 16-15.

64 Kgs: Ronnie Heffron -v- Samir Machrouh - This bout went along at a cracking pace with both boxers taking heavy shots. Ronnie was 15-11 up after the 1^st and 26-18 at the end of the 2^nd. Ronnie was really wearing the Frenchman down in the 3^rd finishing 36-29. Final result to England - 49-34.

69 Kgs: Scott Cardle -v- Giovanni Gandon - Great start for Scott scoring at will to the head and body and finished 9-1 up at the end of the 1^st round. He started the 3^rd with a 12-2 advantage which should have been more. Gandon received a standing count in the 3^rd and the corner wisely retired him at the end of the round.

75 Kgs: Kirk Garvey -v- Brian Brosnan (Ireland) - Both boxers were wary during the 1^st round which finished 1-0 to Ireland. It livened up slightly in the 2^nd with Ireland now 6-0 in front and 11-0 at the end of the 3^rd. Final result 16-2 to Ireland.

81 Kgs: Alfie Sackie -v- Bruno Mutevelian - Alfie stuck to his boxing with a close 3-2 down at the end of the 1^st. The Frenchman moved further away in the 2^nd leading 9-4 and 19-8 at the end of the 3^rd. It was a good performance from Alfie who lost 24-11.

16/12/2007 - England -v- Germany (only 3 boxers available)

51 Kgs: Oscar Webb -v- Alexander Kondratev - A close bout for the first 3 rounds, but then the German started to tire and Oscar started to catch his opponent with some cracking body shots to win comfortably 27-17.

54 Kgs: Bradley Evans -v- Roman Boger - Another great bout. Bradley was always in control with good combinations to the head and body. In the 3^rd round the German had a nosebleed with the doctor taking approximately 5 minutes to examine the boxer and also taking his blood pressure - a first in all my years of being involved in amateur boxing! Bradley was a comfortable winner at 19-10.

75 Kgs: Kirk Garvey -v- Kenan Bajrami - Kirk started slow and was down 5-1 at the end of the 1^st round. Bajrami was one of German teams best boxers and Kirk found himself 14-5 down after 3 rounds. He tried hard in the 4^th but it was too late, losing 18-6 but Kirk was not disgraced.