2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Will Clark)
ROSS-SHIRE boxers Luke Urquhart and Ethan Hoult both became Scottish champions when they picked up gold medals at the National Development Championships in Motherwell. The duo were two of five fighters from Highland Boxing Academy who were crowned national champions at the event held during October. Urquhart from Dingwall was crowned Scottish champion when he secured gold in the Elite Male 67kg with knockout wins in both his semi-final and final bouts.
Fortrose Academy pupil Ethan Hoult was also crowned Scottish champion when he claimed gold in the 50kg A Class for athletes with between zero and three bouts on their record. There was also success for the club’s Inverness based fighters last weekend. Taylor Rattray secured gold in the competition's largest category, Elite Male 75kg A Class, winning all four bouts over the two weekends.
Luka Kushch secured gold in the Schools 2012 40kg A Class with an impressive three wins over the two weekends. Alexander Russell secured gold in one of the competitions' best contests with a classy unanimous win in the Junior 54kg B Class division on the first weekend. The club also saw two of the athletes pick up silver medals at the competition.
They included Ralf Mihalkins who had to settle for silver in his final after winning his semi final. Aidan Mckinlay had to settle for silver in the Youth 67kg B Class Final against a tricky opponent. Brodie Black and Henry Leitch left the competition in the preliminary stages and Troy Stewart secured an impressive win in the quarter finals but lost in his semi-final.
Head coach Liam Foy says it was a fantastic performance by the entire squad at Ravenscraig. “Luke had to get through a semi final and final to win his competition with two wins in two days. He was never in the ring for more than two and a half rounds.
“He won his first match with a body shot in the second round and won the final with a knock out in the first round. “It was a special performance from Luke.” Also praising Hoult’s performance, he said: “Ethan started a wee bit slowly in the first round, he was a wee bit flat-footed, but after getting him back to the corner we got him to set up his attacks a little bit better.
“He did well in the second and third rounds to get the split decision. It was close, but we were confident he had done enough. “It was great for him.
He’s a young lad, and it was his first title for the club – and our first title for the season. “It was great to give the young lad the opportunity to go down there and get some competition experience, and get the gold medal.”.
