Lurgan schoolgirl Cassie Henderson with her proud dad Ryan after being crowned European U17 boxing champion
BY RICHARD BULLICK
IRELAND Under 17 boxing captain Cassie Henderson claimed the second European title of her already exceptional career as she struck gold in Germany just before Christmas with an imperious performance in the 70kg final against a dangerous Ukrainian opponent.
The only one of the 11 female boxers in the Irish team to make a final at these European Championships, Henderson got the nod on the scorecard of all five judges, just as she had done in her previous two bouts against Polish and Italian rivals respectively.
Being crowned European champion again coming into the festive period rounded off another superb sporting year perfectly for the multi-talented Lurgan schoolgirl, who has enjoyed great success both inside the boxing ring and on the gaelic football field.
The pride of Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club, Henderson has secured two Irish titles in the ring this year, firstly winning gold in her weight division at the Senior Cadet Championships at the end of May and repeating that triumph in the age group National U17 Championships.
The latter success came in September, which Cassie rounded off by scoring the only goal for either side in ladies gaelic’s Armagh Senior Championship final between her club Clann Eireann and Crossmaglen in the Athletic Grounds.
Having shone, aged just 15, as Clann Eireann won a second consecutive Ulster Senior Championship showpiece last November, Cassie picked up her third Armagh Minor Championship medal in a row this season.
At inter-county level, Henderson was outstanding in captaining Armagh Under 16s to an All Ireland B title triumph – sealed with a thumping victory over Galway at Pearse Park in Longford – having already won the Ulster gold final.
The following week, Cassie was the female captain of the Ireland Under 17 boxing team which travelled to Florida for the World of Havoc tournament and natural leader Henderson retained that honour for these European Championships at the end of the year.
She had hoped to claim some more silverware on the football field just before going to Germany but Clann Eireann’s Ulster Minor Championship final fell foul of the weather and the Lurgan girls lost the rearranged game against Carryduff in their star player’s absence.
Armagh Under 16 captain Cassie Henderson receives the All Ireland B trophy from LGFA President Trina Murray
Also an accomplished basketball and soccer player, who has appeared at the SuperCup NI for her dad Ryan’s former club Linfield, the only thing that can curtail the incredibly driven and dedicated Cassie is the inability to be in multiple places at once.
Whether she will eventually have to make more acute choices between boxing and gaelic football remains to be seen, but Henderson is grateful that there haven’t been more direct clashes in her busy schedule so far.
Henderson picked up several accolades in the fortnight leading up to the Euros, including an Ulster Schools All Star for ladies football after coming through a trial process which saw an initial list of 180 players whittled down.
Cassie was one of three Clann Eireann players to receive a Buttercrane Club Championships All Star at the Armagh LGFA Awards dinner at the end of November and was also honoured as her school St Ronan’s College’s Female Sportsperson of the Year.
This is already the third Euro medal of the majestic Cassie’s career, having previously picked up a gold and a bronze, and she has clearly established herself as one of the country’s top pound-for-pound prospects with a bright future ahead of her.
A total of 369 boxers from 29 countries contested these Euros so the fact that the 23-strong Ireland team came away with an outstanding return of 10 medals, among them three golds and a silver, further underlined this island’s remarkable reputation for boxing success.
Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine were all represented at these Euros.
Classy Cassie’s latest continental crown came courtesy of three impressive victories in the space of five days, all by unanimous decision, as the charismatic Ireland captain really led from the front in Kienbaum.
Ukraine actually topped the medal table at these Euros, showing what a strong boxing nation they are, but that haul of 10 including golds for Henderson, Sean Moore and Kristian Jubani – whose father is Albanian – plus Kalib Walshe’s silver was a great return for Ireland.
Phoenix ABC fighter Cassie Henderson celebrates after winning her final at the Irish Senior Cadets Championships
In the blue corner for her quarter-final against Poland’s Magdalena Lewkowicz, Henderson had a confident, fast start to a bout in which she emphatically made the running in the first two rounds and earned herself the right to be a bit more cagey in the third.
The imperious Irish champion still did enough to shade that last round on the scorecards of all five judges – from Azerbaijan, Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden and Turkey – to complete a clean sweep to guarantee herself at least a bronze medal.
This time in the red, Henderson had to be more patient initially in a Monday semi-final against Italian Denise Marcellino but all five judges gave her the first two rounds and she was content to keep out of trouble for the remainder of the contest.
The Czech and Swiss judges gave the third round to Marcellino but their colleagues from Finland, Germany and Israel all went with deserving victor Henderson as she booked her place in the final in some style.
On to the Wednesday final and a pumped-up Henderson, back in blue with socks in the orange of Armagh and Clann Eireann, looked energised and dynamic as she danced and shadow-boxed her way to the ring for the showdown with Ukraine’s Vladyslava Nalyvaiko.
Henderson was typically alert and proactive but, as might be expected, this proved her most accomplished opponent of the week and it was a fascinating contest, but all five judges gave Cassie the opening round to huge cheers from her watching Irish team-mates.
With it so close to Christmas, their rendition of ‘Walking in a Cassie Wonderland’ as the second round began seemed fitting but there were anxious moments as the contest had to be paused twice while Henderson had a bloodied nose attended to by the medics.
But the clear-headed Cassie retained her composure to take round two on every scorecard, leaving her 120 seconds to negotiate safely to upgrade guaranteed silver to targeted gold and claim the second European title of her career aged just 16.
Still full of beans, Henderson did what she needed to, cleverly keeping out of trouble and not being bothered again by that bloodied nose, with a couple of lengthy clinches helping to eat up precious time.
Cassie Henderson (left), pictured with aunt and Clann Eireann captain Niamh, scored the only goal in the county final
There were two respectful embraces between these worthy opponents either side of a delighted Henderson having her right hand raised by the Estonian referee as the scores revealed that only the German judge gave the final round to the Ukrainian.
It was a clean sweep for Henderson on the cards of the officials from Georgia, Italy, Denmark and Azerbaijan, and she turned to acknowledge and further whip up the already delirious, flag-waving Irish supporters before exiting the ring.
The medal ceremony a little later was another proud moment, not just for Cassie’s sportsman dad Ryan Henderson, who was in the arena, but also so many back home watching with pride as she clambered onto the top step before Amhrán na bhFiann rang out.
Led by their trio of gold medallists, the Irish team received a warm welcome at Dublin Airport next day and there was a great homecoming reception for European champion Cassie that evening back home at her club Pheonix, who do a great job developing young boxers.
Her achievements are remarkable, but it’s also how well Cassie carries herself that makes her such a superb role model for young girls anywhere, and great ambassador for her hometown of Lurgan, where the local community is so proud of this formidable 16-year-old.
Juggling multiple commitments makes for an almost impossibly busy schedule but the exceptionally talented teenager is incredibly dedicated and disciplined – and, importantly, the precocious Cassie remains a likeable kid who hasn’t let all the glory go to her head.
Like all of us, she isn’t fallible, but personal reputation and trying to conduct herself with honour is something that matters to Henderson, so she won’t mind this article commenting on the positive impression she makes rather than it just going on about all she has won.
After spending some time mingling with the vanquished Galway girls and helping the Armagh management get all the gear sorted, Cassie gave me a lengthy and considered interview in the carpark at Pearse Park after leading Armagh to victory in July’s All Ireland U16 B final.
Echoing elements of the gracious captain’s speech she had delivered earlier, which included paying tribute to the parents of the players, she spoke with warmth, respect and generosity about her Armagh team-mates, management and the opposition too.
Irish captain Cassie Henderson with the team manager after winning her semi-final at the European Championships
After Clann Eireann’s county final victory, Cassie was rightly namechecked by Armagh LGFA chairperson Sinead Reel as one of two Player of the Match contenders, but when that award went to her aunt and captain Niamh Henderson instead, she was the first to applaud.
A towering figure by Armagh forward Niamh’s side, she’d also been engaging good-naturedly and attentively with several very young children who had climbed the steps with the Clann Eireann players for the trophy presentation.
Cassie displayed patience afterwards towards more youngsters who were taking a lot of time to conduct a little interview with her on camera some distance away from where her team-mates were continuing the celebrations and posing for photos with their families.
Despite being the youngest member of the team, Cassie had been the player chosen to represent Clann Eireann at the county finals launch in south Armagh early on a Saturday morning despite getting home to Lurgan very late after winning the Irish title the night before!
At last month’s Armagh LGFA Awards, Henderson happily stood away off to one side when her All Ireland Under 16 B title-winning team were brought onto the stage, feeling no need to be front and centre as captain. Her job had been done during the successful campaign.
Although Henderson and U16 County Player of the Year Lily McBennett were the side’s star turns, when overjoyed goalkeeper Lily O’Neill was given the runner-up award, the Portadown girl received the warmest of hugs by captain Cassie, someone she looks up to as her hero.
By the same token, in addition to her gracious, statesmanlike posts thanking followers for their support on the back of her own successes, Henderson uses her social media platform to showcase and encourage others, including even younger boxers.
Impeccably mannered and unfailingly friendly, she came over to say hello at the Armagh LGFA Awards with a smile and that customary old school handshake before enthusiastically hitting the dancefloor with her pals.
With her impressive physique, well-placed confidence and staggering string of achievements under her belt, Henderson has exceptional presence, is very grown up for her age and marches to a different beat, but still likes to have fun with her peers and that’s healthy.
Blessed with striking good looks as well as personality, Cassie can move seamlessly from the elegant young lady in a dark blue dress at the Armagh dinner dance to swapping punches with Europe’s best young boxers a fortnight later on her way to taking the title.
It spoke volumes about Henderson’s sportsmanship when, after the presentation ceremony and all the 70kg medal winners squeezed onto the top step of the podium for a photo, Cassie shuffled to the back to the extent she – the champion – was the least visible boxer.
Along with dozens of online tributes from delighted followers, new European champion Henderson’s popularity was reflected by the bumper turnout for her heart-warming homecoming the night after clinching gold in Germany.
“Blown away by the love and support,” Cassie posted on social media the following day. She’s the girl who works so hard, and seems to have it all, but wears her crowns lightly and appreciates everybody’s backing.
Now eligible, whether she lines out for Armagh at adult level in the season ahead remains to be seen, but there must be no impediment placed upon a prospective senior county call-up – this should entirely be a matter for manager Greg McGonigle, Cassie and her parents.
Emotional champion Cassie Henderson on the top step of the podium during the 70kg medal ceremony at the Euros
Special guest Cassie Henderson at boxing’s Ulster Elite Finals with the IABA’s interim head coach Damian Kennedy
Cassie Henderson (first left) with some fellow Buttercrane Club Championship All Stars at the Armagh LGFA Awards
Cassie Henderson with her official certificate after winning the 70kg final at the Irish U17 National Championships
New European champion Cassie Henderson with two of her young fans from Phoenix ABC at her homecoming
All the blue on the scorecard shows how emphatic a winner Cassie Henderson was in her final at the U17 Euros
Armagh Under 16 gaelic captain Cassie Henderson on the attack in July’s All Ireland B final trouncing of Galway
European champion Cassie Henderson back at Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club in Lurgan with coach Martine Tate
A commemorative print created by Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club to honour new Euro champ Cassie Henderson
Cassie Henderson after beating a Polish boxer in the quarter-final to clinch a third European medal of her career
Ireland captain Cassie Henderson trades blows with her Italian opponent in their European Championships semi
Focused Cassie Henderson in her corner on the afternoon she won gold at the European U17 Championships
Cassie Henderson celebrates after booking a place in her Euros final with victory against an Italian opponent
New Euro champion Cassie Henderson graciously giving the other 70kg medallists prominence on the podium
Ireland captain Cassie Henderson with her coaches ahead of claiming gold at the European Championships
The four Irish boxers who made their respective finals at this month’s U17 Euros including Cassie Henderson
Cassie Henderson (left) and Crossmaglen captain Faye Fitzpatrick at the Armagh LGFA county finals launch
The referee confirms sole Irish female finalist Cassie Henderson has won her second European title in the ring
Ireland captain Cassie Henderson showing support for a team-mate at the European Under 17 Championships
The 23-strong Ireland team enjoyed great success at this month’s European U17 Championships in Germany
Ireland U17 co-captains Cassie Henderson and Padraig Walsh ahead of the recent European Championships
Cassie Henderson with little sister Lyla after returning to Lurgan as the new European U17 boxing champion
New European champion Cassie Henderson had some special luggage to bring back with her from Germany
