By Ron Lane
Following the success of the Cooroy Impact Boxing Academy team being named as the Sunshine Coast’s Junior Team of the Year, five of their members were selected in the Australian team of 19 to travel to the Philippines.
The reason for this trip was to attend a two weeks advanced training camp with the Philippines National Boxing Team.
Those selected were Sam Cameron- Hands, Tyler Blizzard, Taylah Robertson, Chloe Halley and Ella Boot. A very proud coach Mark Evans said with a laugh, “For a team of fighters who train in a little gym nestled amongst the trees in a country town called Cooroy, we haven’t done too badly. Their camp is situated in Baguio, and it’s an old army barracks; and believe me, from what our members are saying conditions are pretty tough. Their training day is full-on and consists of three two-hour sessions per day. However, having said that, and most important of all– the hospitality has been great.”
For the young Filipino, these barracks become their home while boxing on the National Team. Their day starts with an hour gym session 5-6am, breakfast then school. On returning to the camp it’s an hour of homework, train for two hours, have dinner– then sleep.
With Australia being so far away it makes the European international tournaments very hard to attend, so opportunities such as this must be grabbed with both hands. The Commonwealth Games are the immediate goal for our fighters; the first big step in achieving the ultimate-the Tokyo Olympic.
For the Impact members, there is a busy time ahead with a tournament in Brisbane then a trip to New Zealand followed by the Queensland selection trials: the winners of which will contest the Australian titles to be held in Adelaide in April. The recent visit of the Scottish National team to Queensland for training camps and tournaments was indeed very successful and was well accepted.
On Friday night the Impact team was guests of the Mooloolaba Surf Club. As sponsors of the Sunshine Coast Junior Team of the Year Trophy, which was won by Impact, the club was keen to meet the members and convey their personal well done. ‘’It was a great idea,” said coach Evans, “it not only gave us the opportunity to publicly acknowledge them, but also a chance for our young fighters to actually meet these important people.”
The major problem regarding the impact of retirement following a highly successful and sometimes international career has again raised some concern. However, regarding this, Boxing Australia (Amateur) is certainly moving in the right direction. At recent training camps at the AIS, in Canberra, amateur boxers attended seminars where they were addressed by sports psychologists regarding the mental aspects of their sport; for example the lead-up to and after time of major high pressure events.
It is good to know that at our local Impact Academy, coach Mark Evans has taken the necessary steps to ensure that all avenues of training are being fully covered and studied. “We consider that the mental welfare combined with a solid fitness program is absolutely imperative for the well-being of our athletes; and we will accept nothing else,” Evans said.
