AN amateur boxing club is better equipped to step into the ring after updating its kit following a funding windfall.

Spennymoor Boxing Academy landed £2,000 to buy equipment for members to use in training and to prepare for competition.

Durham County Councillors Ian Geldard and Kevin Thompson each allocated neighbourhood budget money, £1,700 and £300 respectively, to the club via Spennymoor Area Action Partnership.

The club used the cash to buy ten pairs of sparring gloves and also replaced its old scales, which were second hand when director of coaching Robert Ellis founded the club in 1991.

Mr Ellis said: “Replacing kit like this is expensive so we’re really pleased the councillors got on board and got us this money.

“It is about three years since we had new gloves, old gloves run the risk of lads getting injuries when they needn’t so the new ones will protect our boxers especially their hands much better.

“The scales are well over 30 years old and needed recalibrating every year which doesn’t last long, I’ve had boxers go to competitions and not be the right weight so this will really help.”

Coun Geldard said: “I think the boxing academy is one of the greatest organisations we have for young people in this area so I was happy to be able to support it.”

The club’s most recent success came in The Haringey Box Cup tournament at the Alexandra Palace, in London, last month. (June)

Two Spennymoor boxers, Gary Dodds and Adam Watson, took part and the club was proud to see Watson take gold in the 75kg class.