Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy

Bradford College Boxing Centre Sessions

2012-01-31T05:56:00.001-08:00

New session times and instructions for joining the boxing academy in the new Bradford College Boxing Centre will appear here during February.

Great New Video

2011-12-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

Women may have, for some inexplicable reason, been completely missed off the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist, but this video about women's boxing in Bradford at Bradford College and Eastburn ABC puts that right, at least on a local level!

Click here to watch the video.

Congratulations to the media students from the University of Bradford who produced this - it's being aired on the big screen in Centenary Square, Bradford, and will show for a whole year.

Enjoy the Festive Season, and we hope to see you in the new gym early in 2012.

Best wishes,

Paul, Mally and Kevin.

Wenlock comes to Bradford!

2011-12-08T22:37:00.001-08:00

Springwood Primary School, one of our school boxing projects in Bradford, kindly invited me along to meet Wenlock the Olympic mascot, when they were named Get Set Olympic School of the Month for November 2011. Saira (on the right - I'm guessing that you worked that out for yourselves) coaches the all-girl sessions, and PCSO Khalil Alam coaches the boys.

New Gym: Progress Report

2011-12-06T02:09:00.001-08:00

The roof's on so all is on course for the new gym to be finished by Christmas. Thanks to Kevin for the photos. Click on photo to view all.

New Gym: Progress Report

2011-11-29T06:03:00.001-08:00

As you can see, progress on the new gym is going well, and all looks good for it to be completed by the end of the year. Further updates here later.

Bateson adds another title

2011-11-29T05:56:00.001-08:00

Bradford College AASE student Jack Bateson capped a wonderful 2011 by winning the National Clubs for Young People boxing championship (48kg) on Friday night (25th November) at Elland Road, Leeds, with a 14-4 points victory over Sam Cox (West Ham ABC and Orpington Priory College AASE student). Training with Kevin Smith on the Bradford College AASE programme for the last year has helped Jack to develop into an accomplished multiple national title winner and international boxer challenging for a place on the GB Development Squad.

In the last 12 months Jack has won the following:

National CYP Championship

England Junior ABA Championship

GB Junior Championship

Commonwealth Youth Championship Gold Medal

I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Jack, and coaches Kevin Smith and Mally MacIver, on another successful outcome for the Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy.

Congratulations!

2011-11-16T11:52:00.001-08:00

In another glorious triumph for the boxing academy, Mally won a bear in the college raffle. Modest as ever, Mally refused to have his photo taken with his new friend.

The Bear

RIP Joe Frazier 1944 - 2011

2011-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

Joe Frazier is famous for his battles as a pro with Ali and Foreman, but he was a gifted amateur too, winning the heavyweight gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, despite breaking his thumb during the competition. Here's a clip of his victory over Hans Huber of Germany in the final. I think the referees let them go on a bit longer in those days before stepping in!

RIP Joe Frazier, a tough, tough man.

New Gym: Progress Report

2011-11-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

The concrete base starts to take shape

17 lorry loads of concrete are being poured in today as the base of the new gym takes shape. If the weather is kind to us the building itself should really start to take shape between 21st and 25th November.

Springwood Primary School Get Set for London 2012

2011-10-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Saira Tabasum and Luke Swift with members of the Springwood Primary School girls' boxing club

BPCBA boxer and ABAE-qualified coach Saira Tabasum has been busy building up the boxing club at Springwood Primary School, and has helped them become the Get Set Olympic School of the Month for November 2011. See press release, below, for more on this story:

SpringwoodPrimary School in Bradford, is the first school in Yorkshire to be selected asthe Olympic School of the Month by the national organizing body for the LondonOlympics.

The school has been selected out ofover 7,000 primary schools in the Get Set network due to its outstandingcommitment to living the Olympic and Paralympic Values in both creative andinnovative ways.

The selection is based uponthe fantastic blog entries that have been submitted by pupils at the school andin particular for holding Olympic and Paralympic Values assemblies and for theirgirls' boxing club. The club is part of a range of initiatives set up by theschool and is part of the Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy's outreachprogramme provided by Bradford College in partnership with the Police CommunityClubs of Great Britain, with boxer/coach Saira Tabasum, a product of the BPCBAboxing club.

The schoolhas been promoting the Get Set for 2012 initiative for some time now. Last year somepupils went to London to see the Olympic site being developed in recognition ofthe work as part of the Get Set programme. Pupils later contacted Lord Coe,Chairman of the London Olympic Committee to commend him on the facilities and forhis work linked to the Olympics and met him when he came to Bradford.Individual pupils later were recognised in the Bradford Young Citizens Award.

Luke Swiftfrom Springwood Primary School, said “The workwill continue to develop as a part of the school's plans to embrace the Olympicand Paralympic values. During the last two years, we have been increasing theawareness of London 2012 with staff, pupils and the community by organisingevents and creating displays to mark significant dates. We are both proud andprivileged to receive such an accolade from the national organising group."

Loftus and Bateson Through To National Quarter Finals

2011-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Bradford College AASE boxing students Jack Bateson and Connor Loftus for winning their way through to the national quarter finals of the CYP Championships. Jack won when the referee stopped the contest in his favour in the 3rd round, and Connor recorded a convincing 17-9 points win. Billy Pickles was unlucky to lose a decision that raised more than a few eyebrows in the crowd.

News For Bradford University Students

2011-10-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

With the new gym being built at the moment I can reveal some of the additional sessions that will be running for Bradford University students in the New Year. There will be at least one female-only session running from 6pm to 7.30pm on a weekday evening (day tbc) led by ABAE-qualified coach Saira Tabasum, and a male session running from 6pm to 7.30pm on a weekday evening (day tbc) led by ABAE-qualified coach Jack Radford. Saira also competes for our club, the Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy, and was runner-up in last season's BUCS Championships. Jack has boxed for England at Super-Heavyweight and is currently studying on the AASE elite-boxer programme.

There will also be at least one weekend daytime session (day and time tbc). These sessions will be open to beginners who wish to train to compete eventually, if they make the grade and pass the ABAE medical, and to those who just want to keep fit. Those wanting to compete will then be moved into our regular club sessions if they reach the required standard.

More information here when the new gym is closer to completion.

CYP Championships

2011-10-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

Good luck today to Bradford College AASE student boxers Jack Bateson (48kg), Billy Pickles (63kg) and Connor Loftus (66kg), and former AASE student Scott Baghurst (57kg), all of whom will be competing in the CYP national Championships at Havercroft Sports Centre for Yorkshire against the North East. Results here as soon as I get them.

Work Starts On New Gym

2011-10-20T01:40:00.000-07:00

The diggers have arrived, and work is now starting on the new gym. Updates on progress will appear here.

Boxing Show Postponed

2011-10-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to postpone our dinner boxing show, which was due to take place on 4th November. This is due to events beyond our control. Details of the new date and venue will appear here as soon as they are confirmed.

Note To University Of Bradford Students

2011-10-06T03:59:00.000-07:00

First of all a big thank you to all of the University of Bradford students who signed up for boxing sessions at the freshers fair on 21st September.
Such is the level of demand in Bradford College at the moment that until the new gym is built, hopefully by the end of term, we will not be able to provide extra sessions for university students. I will put further information on this blog as it becomes available.

BPCBA Stars In ABAE Disability Boxing Training Video

2011-10-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this great new Sport England-funded video about boxing training for disabled people, starring our very own Disability Sports Academy. Click here to see it on You Tube.