Cowdenbeath: Beath boxing club invests in competition ring

Founder JP Hynd said: “We currently have three boxing rings up in the gym, but the guys are often standing about waiting on their turn to spar.

“We thought ‘we’ve got to start cutting this down to improve the quality of experience for our members,’ So, the decision was taken to add another ring to the inventory.

“We’re planning on hosting a box cup tournament in Cowdenbeath next summer with boxers from the UK, Ireland, and of course Europe.

“We’ve already got one competition ring, but we need two for that tournament.”

For the past two summers the club has sent a team of boxers out to Spain for a weeklong sparring camp.

Mr Hynd said: “They meet and mix with kids from all over, which broadens their horizons. Bringing a little piece of that to Cowdenbeath is good for not just the club but the local economy too.”

The new investment follows the agreement of a new five year sponsorship deal, which will see the Fife company Equinox Access Solutions pour a “five figure sum” into the club.

JP Hynd (right) with Equinox managing director Jason Ross (left) (Image: Beath Boxing Club) Mr Hynd said: “It's helping us massively. It’s not every day an international company with guys working all over the world gives you a phone and says I want to sponsor you.

“It’ll help us take our guys to other tournaments as well. We’re looking for tournaments across Europe for our guys to give them a greater experience.

“We’ve got guys who have just come back from the Scottish development championships where we got one gold and three silver medals.”

Speaking about the benefits of boxing for a young person, he added: “Primarily it’s physical and mental health but it stops kids from hanging about the streets with no sense of purpose. We try to give the guys a bit of focus and prepare them for their life ahead.

“Boxing has ups and downs and there’s opportunities for learning much like life in general.”