Braid ABC announce plans for growth

Braid ABC is seeking funding for expansion to their club, which provides a forum for young people to get involved in sport through the medium of boxing.

Head coach John McLeister explained: “We have an excellent club and facility, however, additional space is required, such is the large number of participants we have. We have a three to five-year growth strategy, and an extension to our premises will enable us to meet our objectives.

“We are very passionate about our sport and are under no illusions as to our jobs here and what we provide at Braid ABC,

“We do not only produce young sporting stars by giving them a personal goals and objectives, training plans and continuous improvement programmes, we consciously use techniques similar to business perfor-mance measures to plan strategic goals for our club.

“Now we have a dedicated facility with limited use, we have increased our medal haul and grown in credibility producing boxers of very high regard. We require more freedom to coach and flexibility to introduce elite boxing training sessions. To do this, we have to be careful that we do not exclude those who are just beginning their personal journey.

“In some ways, we have become victims of our own success, in that to continue to produce champions at all levels we require the same level of input, but we also have the added responsibility to raise the bar competing at a level not experienced by our club to date,” added John.

Chairman John Orawe added: “We see it as our job to help our team of boxers to equip themselves with the essential life skills to contribute positively to the community.

“We pride ourselves that they act as ambassadors for the Ballymena Borough and show respect for others wherever they go. We boast a cross-community club with a neutral training venue, and have introduced a boxing tradition into some areas of our community, which would not normally be associated with boxing. Our boxers have been taught the art of boxing, which includes all the characteristics that accompany the sport – character, confidence and cameraderie.

“Our aim is to take boxing into the mainstream and introduce the use of our club to schools, community groups and private organisations. Boxing for fun schools projects, workplace training and team building groups and community workshops can all avail of this excellent facility and this sport.

“Future funding will help us increase our floor space and implement a fitness suite, update our equipment and help us to attract more support from local businesses to get involved in this dynamic but highly popular sport.

“We have an excellent crop of young talent coming through the club and would love to have the coaching staff to increase the numbers. Teach–to-teach will enable us to provide training for PE teachers and such like to implement basic skills training as a foundation for those young pupils who wish to commence on a journey that may take them to Olympic glory.

“At this time of cuts and more cuts, we must look at our running costs associated with running a centre of excellence. We would be sure to use any funding wisely and all of it will be used to the good of our boxers and young sportsmen and women in Ballymena.

“Braid plan to engage with Ballymena Borough council arts and leisure to help create a Ballymena boxing strategy to ensure boxing training is inclusive of all religious backgrounds, social backgrounds and can reach areas so far neglected, such as mental health organisations and youth justice schemes.

“The plan to extend the club will benefit so many more people as well as the boxers; more people can avail of flexible opening and an additional boxing ring.

“The visit of the DCAL chairperson Michelle McIlveen came about from one such visit. Paul Frew MLA along with Robin Swann MLA both visited the club and were so impressed with the work they asked Michelle to come along, we have a unique boxing club such is the relationship we have with Ballymena Borough Council.

“Together we have created a cross community working group unparelled in amateur boxing. This is a model that we told Michelle should be replicated and any boxing club seeking funding should provide a strategy to ensure they meet the desired standards ensuring inclusivity from top to bottom.

“It is hoped some of our boxers will compete in the up-and-coming Ulster Elite Championships in January 2013. This is unknown territory for the club and will provide us with a tough challenge, but we feel the time is right to step up to the next level,” added John.