By Ron Lane
THE Irish made two sweeping statements. The first was big headlines in a local paper – The Aussies Are In Town. And the second and best of all – The Celtic Cup Goes Down Under.
First statement was to give the Queensland Amateur Boxing Team, a huge warm welcome to Ireland; there to take part in the big international boxing tournament, the Celtic Cup. Next was to tell us that the Queensland Team won the coveted trophy by finishing the tournament with a total of five gold and three silver medals.
To win the tournament, which was held in Dungarvan, Waterford, was outstanding. Add to this they also won a lead-up tournament against the Munster Select Team, five bouts to four.
Proud to say, that two of the outstanding members for Queensland were Taylah Robinson and Tyler Blizzard, who went through both tournaments undefeated. They were just two of the five from the Cooroy Impact Amateur Boxing Club selected to represent their state.
Apart from Queensland receiving the Celtic Cup, both Robertson and Blizzard were presented with magnificent championship belts as winners of their respective divisions.
“When we received the belts we were amazed,” Tyler Blizzard said. “They are unbelievable. To receive trophies like these makes it all worthwhile.”
Needless to say that the Celtic Cup and both Championship Belts are now taking pride of place in the Impact Boxing Academy in their new hometown – Cooroy.
At the completion of both tournaments, so outstanding was the performance of Taylah Robertson that Boxing Australia invited her to stay and travel to Bulgaria to attend an elite women’s boxing camp.
Other Impact members of the team Sam Cameron-Hands, Brock Shelly and Luke Martin chalked up wins.
However losses on split decisions left some fighters disappointed.
“These types of decisions are unfortunately part of boxing and we learn to accept it gracefully,” Sam Cameron-Hands said.
Regarding the tournaments, Impact coach and Boxing Queensland president Mark Evans said: “A big shout to Taylah and Tyler on their wins, undefeated throughout the Ireland tour; and a really big shout to Boxing Queensland. They continually support these kids and give our athletes state wide, the development they need on an international level as well as on home soil. Also the way the team conduct themselves both inside and outside the ring is commendable”.
