Lottery Funding ensures that Garnock Valley Amateur Boxing Club packs a punch

Tuesday 27 July 2004

A host of boxing enthusiasts from around North Ayrshire will join Craig Docherty, Commonwealth Super Featherweight Champion on Saturday 31 July, as he cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the newly refurbished Garnock Valley Amateur Boxing Club. Supported by an award of £26,147 from sportscotland’s Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme, the club now boasts a permanent boxing ring, a fully equipped gym, a fitted sauna and brand new changing and shower facilities.

“This project is yet another example of sportscotland’s commitment to providing quality facilities that are easily accessible to people of all ages and abilities, helping to make more people, more active, more often.”

The club, founded by ex-amateur boxer Tam Payne, started life in 1999 after he identified that there was a lack of recreational facilities for young people in the Garnock Valley area. From humble beginnings in a converted garage at the bottom of his garden, Tam started a club to encourage young people to participate in physical activity by introducing them to boxing.

With only a temporary ad hoc ring and minimal basic equipment, Tam taught a range of boxing skills to a wide spectrum of ages and abilities. Within weeks the club had become so popular that Tam had to move to larger premises to accommodate its thriving membership.

Today, the club runs a strong junior sports development programme which devises personalised gym routines to build stamina and improve skill, technique and confidence. Young boxers are taught key boxing skills, including shadow boxing, the use of striking pads and punch bags to practice punches and sparring, helping young boxers to perfect their technique in a controlled, protective environment and providing ideal training for competitions.

Members are actively encouraged to enter local, Scottish and national competitions and last year the club celebrated a number of boxing achievements, including members Thomas Payne and Kevin Swindle picking up two Scottish titles in the youth division at the Scottish Boxing Championships in Coatbridge.

For those simply wishing to stay fit, the club also runs a range of exercise classes including boxercise, health and fitness training and weight training programmes which are open to people of all ages and abilities in the local community.

Tam Payne, President and founder of Garnock Valley Boxing Club said: “I would like to say a big thank you to sportscotland and Cunninghame Housing Association for their generous financial support towards the funding to complete phase 2 of the works to the centre. When I first acquired the building I put in over £40,000 of my own money, plus the money we raised from running shows. The place needed so much done to it that I had to apply for help to complete the project.

“The centre is now in excellent condition, with facilities second to none. We had nothing in this area for kids or adults, but now, with the new facility offering a range of fitness activities under one roof, we will go from strength to strength.

“I would like to finish by thanking everyone that was involved in refurbishing the old valley arc centre into what we have now, something outstanding.”

Frank Sweeney, Chief Executive of Cunninghame Housing Association said: “With a significant number of rented housing properties in the Garnock Valley and as one of the driving forces behind the Radio City Healthy Living project in Kilbirnie, Cunninghame feels a close connection with the local community. When Allan Wilson MSP wrote to us with the background to this project our voluntary Management Committee were impressed by Tam Payne’s grit and determination to see his dream being achieved.
“ Through our community economic regeneration partnership with the Moffat Charitable Trust, Cunninghame are pleased to have been able to contribute £7050 to help the club enhance its reputation as a positive outlet for young people to develop their own physical fitness and self-esteem. We wish them all the very best for the future.”

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “We are delighted to have been part of this project with an award of £26,147 from the Lottery Fund’s Sports Facilities Programme. The new, upgraded facilities at Garnock Valley are sure to encourage more people from the local community to take part in boxing or one of the many exercise programmes the club offers.

“This project is yet another example of sportscotland’s commitment to providing quality facilities that are easily accessible to people of all ages and abilities, helping to make more people, more active, more often.”

• The official opening ceremony will take place on 31 July 2004 at 2pm at Garnock Valley Amateur Boxing Club, 10 Garnockside, Glengarnock, By Beith, KA14 3AB.
• Garnock Valley Amateur Boxing Club is affiliated with Amateur Boxing Scotland, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Scotland and North Ayrshire Sports Council.
• You and your representative are invited to attend.