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19/03/2008

The French Connection

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Olympic qualifiers Joe Murray (54kg ENG), Frankie Gavin (60kg ENG), Roberto Cammerelle (+91kg ITA) and Jean MBumba (91kg FRA)
Beijing-bound: Olympic qualifiers Joe Murray, Frankie Gavin, Roberto Cammerelle and Jean M'Bumba 

The GB senior squad took advantage of the new improved London to Paris Eurostar link and the cordial relationships with the French squad by joining up with the French and Italian squads for a week of joint training at the French Olympic sporting headquarters INSEP (Institut National du Sport Education Physique).

There was an impressive array of Olympic talent on display at the camp with 11 Olympic qualifiers and seven World medallists in action.  The squad provided Olympians Frankie Gavin (World Champion 60kg) and Joe Murray (World Bronze Medallist 54kg) with the opportunity to begin preparing in earnest for their first competitive outing of 2008 (likely to be the Gee Bee tournament in Finland - late April).  The remainder of the squad are focussed on earning selection and preparing for the final Olympic qualifier in Athens next month.

According to Stephen Simmons: "It was a really good week.  It was brilliant to spar with two World Champions."

An impressed Italian Head Coach, Francesco Damiani said:  "I must come to Sheffield.  I want to know what you do there!"

Francesco Damiani (Italian Head Coach), Dominique Nato (French Head Coach) and the Italian Assistant Coach
Francesco Damiani, Dominique Nato and the Italian Assistant Coach

Frankie, Clemente Russo and Roberto Cammarelle   
Frankie Gavin with Clemente Russo 91kg and Roberto Cammarelle

Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith models the latest 
in French training vests

GB Squad

48kg Darran Langley & Paul Butler
54kg Joe Murray (World Bronze Chicago 2007)
57kg Stephen Smith & Tom Stalker 
60kg Frankie Gavin (World Champion Chicago 2007)
91kg Stephen Simmons & Danny Price
+91kg David Price

Nb: of the remaining seven senior squad members, Michael Maguire was preparing for an ABA Championship bout at home at Kettering School of Boxing under stewardship of club coach Clive Hogben, Tony Jeffries and Brad Saunders are still recovering from post Chicago surgery, Neil Perkins was training at Kirkdale ABC and recent Olympic qualifiers Khalid Yafai, Billy Joe Saunders and James DeGale were taking a well-earned break before returning to training at Sheffield on Monday 17th March.

French Olympians           

Nourdine Oubali (48kg World Bronze Chicago 2007)
Khedafi Djelkhir (57kg Pescara qualifier)
Alexis Vastine (64kg Chicago qualifier)
Jean M'Bumba (91kg Chicago qualifier)

Italian Olympians 

Vicenzo Picardi (51kg World Bronze Chicago 2007)
Domenico Valentino (60kg World Silver Chicago 2007)
Clemente Russo (91kg World Champion Chicago 2007)
Roberto Cammarelle (+91kg World Champion Chicago 2007)

Algerian Olympian

Newfel Ouatah (+91kg Algiers qualifier)

Matt Archibald GB Programme Manager said: "In order to continually raise the standards of the boxers and coaches on the programme we need to regularly train and spar with the top teams.  We now have a fantastic relationship with the French, the Italians are looking to join up too.  The coaches (Terry, Nigel and David) have been delighted with the quality of sparring this week, this week we have confirmed plans to link up with these two countries at least twice more this year."



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