(MAY 13) The National Amateur Boxing Association of England Female Championships is underway. Preliminary and quarter finals are taking place across the country leading to the semi finals being held on 31st May and the finals being held on 7th June. Both events are in Manchester. With 154 boxers taking part, the ABAE have been overwhelmed with a 50% increase in entries this year demonstrating the continuing growth in women’s participation.

The Championships are becoming an important part of the domestic calendar even more so with the imminent decision by the International Olympic Committee regarding women’s boxing events being included in the 2012 Olympic Games programme, due in August.

The Championships include events for school girls, juniors and seniors of all abilities. With numbers growing the senior and experienced boxers are being put to the test. Well known / England boxers competing include:

48kgs Hannah Beharry from London who recently appeared on the BBC Three TV documentary with Natalie Cassidy. Hannah is the European Union Bronze medalist.

48kgs Chloe Fairhead from Sittingbourne in Kent. Chloe won bronze at the European Youth Championships and is now competing as a Senior. Hannah and Chloe will battle it out in the finals.

51kgs Sharon Holford from Rotherham training at the Aspire club in Sheffield. Sharon is the European Union silver medalist. She will be defending her National Title and EU title in June.

57kgs Lucy O’Connor from the Royal Navy. Lucy is the European Union Gold medalist. Lucy faces stiff competition with high numbers of entries in her weight category.

64kgs Natasha Jonas from the Rotunda club in Liverpool. Natasha is the current National ABA title holder at 63kgs and European Union silver medalist.

64kgs Amanda Coulson from the Hartlepool Catholic ABC. Amanda lost out to Natasha last year at 63kgs and continued to compete with success at the 66kgs. However with an international change to the weight groupings Amanda is looking forward to the re-match with Natasha Jonas at 64kgs. This eagerly awaited bout has been drawn for the semi finals.

69kgs Savannah Marshall from Hartlepool. This will be the first year that Savannah will compete as a senior and she is a very exciting prospect after winning a Gold medal at the European Youth Championship last year.


1. Boxing starts at 12.30pm on 31st May and 7th June and is due to finish (subject to programming) at 6pm.

2. Venue – Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence, Cedar Mount School, Matthews Lane, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7SP.

3. Tickets available on the door priced £10 for people 11 years of age and over and £5 for under 10’s.