Sports & Social
Police help fund boxing club
TRAINING PAYS OFF FOR DC: DC Mark Rigby from Salford Division won the title of Lightweight Novice British Champion, at the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation finals in Manchester. Mark’s success follows 25 weeks of following a strict diet and exercise regime – this has proved very challenging, especially when his colleagues are eating pizza – his favourite food for refs!
PCSO Nigel Kirk, PC Paul Mottram and Brian Gardner from Eccles Boxing School
OFFICERS from the Salford West Integrated Neighbourhood Policing Team have helped fund boxing sessions for young people. PCSO Nigel Kirk and PC Paul Mottram successfully obtained £1,000 from the High Sheriff's Trust to buy equipment for Eccles Boxing School. The club holds classes Monday Friday for girls and boys between the ages of seven and 17 and money will be used to buy boxing gloves, mouth shields and first aid kits. The sessions are run by former amateur boxer and Taekwondo champion Brian Gardner who has set up the sessions to support the local
community. PCSO Nigel Kirk said: “Boxing is a great way of reducing antisocial behaviour by getting kids of the streets and teaching them discipline, respect and commitment. “Supporting an initiative such as this also helps the police to engage with young people in an informal environment. It shows them that we aren’t the enemy and we are human, just like them. “The work that Brian has done in the community is admirable and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support him.”
32 Brief Edition Year
AS part of this year’s tennis season, PCs Paul Bentley and Martin Bromley from the Bolton Division formed part of a British team taking on a Swedish police team in Stockholm. Held at the Danderyd Tennis Club, the British team won the two-day tournament 16-10. The National Swedish Police Sports Journal commented that the double match played by Paul and Martin was technically and tactically a spectacular match that went to tiebreak and English triumph.
Charity boxing triumph AFTER ten weeks of training officers from GMP, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire took to the ring for the ‘Battle of the Forces 2013’. Greater Manchester representatives taking part in the event were Daniel Caldcleugh, Martin Murphy, Simon Akker; Helen Tyrer; Craig Boose, Terry Mayers, Joseph Burrows, Timothy Abernethy, Ashley Keyte, Neil Ingham, Adam Jackson and Karl Rogers. The standard of the boxing was high, with some very close bouts, GMP’s Joseph Burrows in particular picked up the North West Forces Heavyweight title. Money raised from the event went to the Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund.
English grit met Swedish flair
Club Director Urban Nordqvist said: “The tournament was to a very high standard in both singles and doubles. The whole event was characterised by extremely good spirits.” PC Ashley Keyte from Wigan Division and PC Tim Abernethy from Bolton Division represented GMP at the event.
All fights feature on the website Sharefight.com.
Swedish team leader, Tomas Koppelman Hellgren commented that despite a number of close matches they met some great friends who were great sportsmen. He added: “We will definitely be sharpening up on our form ready for next year’s tournament in England.”