AN ANGLESEY boxing club is appealing for more women and girls to join as it launches a recruitment drive.

Llangefni Boxing Club has given its headquarters in the town’s Old Cricket Club a revamp and now it has invested in new equipment thanks to a £2,000 grant from the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

North Wales Chronicle: Police and Community Trust chair Ashley Rogers with PCSOs Lee Monk, left, and Carwyn Gilford, with members of Llangefni Boxing Club who have just received a £2,000 grant from the charity.Police and Community Trust chair Ashley Rogers with PCSOs Lee Monk, left, and Carwyn Gilford, with members of Llangefni Boxing Club who have just received a £2,000 grant from the charity. (Image: Submitted)

Three specialist punchbags worth over £700 have been purchased as well as key protective kit such as four headguards at £90 each plus. A total of 10 skipping ropes have also been bought.

The club also hope that new changing and toilet facilities attract more women and girls to take up the sport at the club which was founded in 1987.

Derwyn Williams, head coach, said: “The club has been going for 35 years and has produced a number of Welsh champions including Geraint Pritchard who won three national titles.

“We’re very welcoming, anyone can just turn up and the aim for us is to keep the costs down so the kids can join and we’re really keen to attract more women and girls now that we’ve upgraded our facilities.

“They can just turn up – we take them from the age of nine upwards and it gives them a goal because a lot of our members do come from deprived areas and boxing teaches them discipline and respect, keeps them fit and off the streets."

The club were nominated for the grant by Carwyn Gilford, Police Community Support Officer.

He said: “The club is a really positive place and gets a wide range of different ages involved.

“That way it builds good relationships with different parts of the local community and a positive bond between people of different ages.

North Wales Chronicle: Total concentration from 10-year-old Shay Hutchins.Total concentration from 10-year-old Shay Hutchins. (Image: Submitted)

“We knew the club was a force for good in the community and this was a way of making sure they could get the quality equipment they needed.”

Phillip Green, 17, of Llanerchymedd, has been a member for five years and is one of three Llangefni boxers competing in the Welsh Novice Championships in Cardiff this month.

“I was getting into fitness and a mate of mine was coming here so I came along with him and have stayed with it," he said.

“I love it. There’s nothing better. It keeps you fit and out of trouble and teaches you discipline.”

Arron Jones, 14, of Llangefni, said: “I’ve been coming here for four years and really enjoy it. I love getting in the ring and I’ve competed in Wales and in England, in Manchester and Liverpool.”

Ashley Rogers, PACT Chair, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support the club with £2,000 for specialist equipment – it is a really important community hub which has been going for 35 years.

“It’s a great opportunity to improve mental and physical health and teach self-discipline and I’m delighted that the local neighbourhood policing team have such a close relationship with the club.

“The nature of the equipment the club has been able to purchase is far superior to anything we used to have as youngsters – it’s very specialist kit which is designed to be safer and that’s especially important for young people taking up the sport and whose bodies are still developing.”