A TALENTED boxer is hoping victory in a national competition at the weekend will take her to the next level.

Hannah Robinson took top spot in the National Senior Development Championships in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which has given her the chance to compete against the country’s elite female boxers in the under 60kg category next April.

The 22-year-old, who trains at Bishop Auckland Amateur Boxing Club, knows that doing well in this competition could see her put on an elite training programme and selected to represent England.

“This will be the first time in this competition,” she said. “I should have already had the opportunity but I have had so many bad injuries it has set me back a bit.

“I am hoping for a good season and I want to get in as many fights as I can before April.

“I was so pleased to win at the weekend. With my coaches we put together a plan and it worked.”

Finding opponents of a similar ability to Miss Robinson, who lives in Darlington, is not an easy task and often results in her having to travel across the country for bouts and even training - something which she has to fund herself or fundraise for.

There is only one other female at the boxing club so she regularly spars with the male members.

“There is a depth of talent in male boxing but the women don’t have that,” said Miss Robinson, who combines training twice-a-day with a part time job. “I have recently been to Hull to fight and that is quite close really.”

“I live for boxing. Everything I do revolves around it. I put a lot of time in and my coaches see that and they put a lot of time in for me. I know I can do it I have just had that many setbacks. I just need to stay injury free.

“If I can get on the England talent pathway that would make a big difference as they organise training camps and fights and help with funding.

“At the moment I am trying to raise funds for a competition in Sweden in February.”

The Durham University graduate, who has only been focussed on boxing for about three years, is looking forward to having the support of her family and friends when she fights at Tindale Workingmen’s Club, near Bishop Auckland, on Friday, December 9.

She added: “It is quite unusual for me to fight round here and get the local support so it will be good.

“My dream is to represent my country in boxing for England. I am confident when I fight but I do still get nervous. I don’t know what I would do without boxing.”