It was gloves on for Taunton MP Gideon Amos as he stepped into the ring at a Taunton Amateur Boxing Club training night this week.
Mr Amos enjoyed a short sparring match with Daryl Sigobodhla, even throwing a few practice punches as he paid tribute to the hard work at the club.
The MP was invited to visit the club’s HQ, off Wood Street, to meet coaches as well as both senior and junior boxers, and didn't hold back when asked if he'd like to have a go.
Mr Amos said afterwards: “It was an absolute pleasure to visit, thank the volunteers and congratulate the youngsters and adults on their commitment to the club.
“Whenever I’m invited to shine the spotlight on local volunteers, I’ll always jump into the ring to do so.
“It’s the least I can do to recognise that their efforts and those of our local community groups are what make Taunton and Wellington such great places to be.
“Fortunately, trading blows in the House of Commons is a lot easier than doing so in real life!”
Taunton Amateur Boxing Club was established in August 2024 by Barry and Louise Tate.
Barry said: “Very quickly, we were lucky enough to have an enthusiastic and committed team of volunteers who had the same vision as us.
“The club has grown rapidly over the last 18 months, and we are extremely grateful to all of the coaches and other volunteers who have come on board to help us build such an amazing facility for local people.
"Our mission is to strengthen the local community through accessible amateur boxing and fitness programmes which build confidence, resilience and positive life skills.
“We provide a safe, structured and aspirational environment for children, young people and adults, including those from some of the most deprived areas of Taunton.
“Our core purpose is to reduce barriers to sport and increase participation among underrepresented groups.
“Boxing is used not only as a physical activity but as a tool for developing discipline, respect, improved mental wellbeing and clear pathways into competition, coaching and future employment.
“We also offer positive, constructive alternatives to anti-social behaviour.”
The club delivers sessions five nights a week from its town centre facility.
Louise added: “Our timetable includes junior and youth boxing, senior training, inclusive ‘fitness for all’” classes and dedicated sparring sessions which support safe progression.
“Demand for our sessions continues to grow, and we aim to expand our reach, increase capacity and enhance the opportunities available to our members.
“We take members from the age of six in our children's classes and offer a wide range of youth and senior classes for adults.
“We are a non-profit organisation, and our team of coaches and committee members volunteer for the love of the sport.
“We aren't just a boxing club; we are a close-knit community that some describe as family.
“The club relies on support from local businesses, who very kindly sponsor our club, along with the membership fees, which we keep at a reduced cost.
“Not only do we operate five nights per week over several sessions, but we also spend a considerable number of weekends taking our boxers to gain experience sparring at other clubs and competing throughout England and also on occasions, internationally.
“In May, we are travelling to Portugal with a team of eight boxers to represent the club in one of the largest tournaments in Europe. This has been made possible by the generous businesses which have supported the trip.
“Later in the year, we also plan to travel to Ireland for another tournament.”
“We have several boxers competing at a high level and have a very committed squad of boxers.”
In the past 12 months, notable achievements have included:
- International tournaments attended in Portugal and Ireland.
- Three Western Counties titles.
- One Western Counties squad representative.
- One England Performance Pathway boxer.
- One national bronze medallist.
- One Western Counties senior elite belt holder.
Barry commented: “For a club that has been open for less than two years, we are extremely proud of our achievements so far.
“We are due to host our second local event at Taunton Vale Sports Club on Saturday, 11th of April, when clubs from different parts of the country will come to compete against our boxers.
“We are expecting around 500 guests to attend, and it will certainly be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the club.
“We are in desperate need of a club mini bus to use for all the travelling we do.
“This is something that we will be looking for help with in the near future and hope to get some local funding in place to help with this.”
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