Southern View: September 11, 2018

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday September 11 2018 17
Woolston duo seek
Teki-Clark to lead the way
national boxing titles
• By Jacob Page
A CHANCE at redemption and
a debut on the national stage are
the motivators for two Woolston
boxers.
Coach Holly Sullivan believes
she has a couple of dark horses in
Trevor Swainson and Hamuera
Tainui for the New Zealand
amateur championships at the
Hornby Workingmen’s Club next
month.
Swainson, 25, will compete in
the 91kg elite grade and Tainui,
14, will take part in the 63kg
cadet section.
Swainson will be competing in
his first nationals after an injured
rib ruled him out last year.
While Tainui will be looking
to go one better than his silver
medal last year at his final
opportunity in the cadet class.
“I don’t put guys in there if I
don’t think hey have a chance to
win,” Sullivan said.
“Trevor is someone who’s been
training with me for the past five
years and rediscovered his fire
for boxing after stepping away.
“He’s really excited to be
competing and just wants to
go up against the best in the
country.”
Tainui lost his gold medal bout
to Canterbury teammate Daniel
Meehan 12 months ago.
Meehan will move up to the
junior grade this year meaning
Tainui will have a chance at the
gold to add to his silver.
“He’s a very strong kid,”
Sullivan said. “If he lifts his
work-rate during rounds, I think
he can win for sure.
Both guys are capable on
their day of beating anyone
and I’m super stoked with their
preparation.”
Sullivan hoped they
would not be the only
Woolston boxers to
make the team with
several box-offs set
to determine any
additions to the team
in the coming days.
The event runs
from October 3
to 6.
ROUND: Woolston
boxers Hamuera
Tainui (right) and
Trevor Swainson will
be competing at
the at the amateur
championships next
month. ​
• By Jacob Page
ADDINGTON’S Riverside
Boxing Club is out to prove
it can win national titles.
Defending elite 81kg
champion Sunny Teki-Clark
will lead the way but coach
Matt Neale said there are
several other boxers eager to be
called the best in the country.
“With Sunny winning the national
title last year, I’ve really
noticed how much it has lifted
his confidence,” Neale said.
“He’s training hard and setting
a great example.”
A late inclusion in the team is
Thomas Hanford who has been
in a cast after breaking his hand
while winning a South Island
Golden Gloves title in June.
“He’s had five fights this year
and only lost one,” Neale said.
“He’s only just getting back
into it and he’s a guy who has a
lot of talent and for him not to
be able to perform at nationals
would have been a real shame.”
Sophie Mulally will be
another eager for competition.
“We have been struggling to
get her matched-up with suitable
opponents lately but she
never misses training and will
be ready to go.”
Alex Oliver, who will
compete in a tough 75kg elite
class, is another quiet achiever.
“He’s not a guy who says a
lot,” Neale said.
“He comes in and works hard
LEADER: Sunny
Teki-Clark will be looking
to lead by example for the
Riverside Boxing Club at
the New Zealand Amateur
Championships in Hornby
next month.
PHOTO: HOLLY SULLIVAN
and I think he’ll give a good
account of himself.
Neale, who is also a
Canterbury selector said
the team would get extra
confidence from competing
with the support of a home
crowd.
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