Paige Nickels has now won eight Irish titles
FIFTEEN year old duo Paige Nickels and Lucie Prentice scored more success for Banbridge Boxing Club with victories in the Under 17 National finals at the National stadium in Dublin.
For Lucie, her final bout win over Tess Ormond of Waterford in the 50kg category earned her first Irish title after four runners up finishes.
Current UK and Irish champion Paige, meanwhile, landed her eighth Irish title from 11 final appearances, defeating Daisy Kiernan from Dealgan Boxing Club.
Both girls are now up for National team selection for the European championships in December in Germany and will attend high performance squad training in Dublin for the next few months.
A July switch to the Banbridge club has certainly paid off for Lucie.
Guided by head coach Jason Mckay, Lucie is boxing with a new found belief and confidence.
After and fantastic semi final victory against European bronze medallist Alannah Murphy, Lucie set her stall out against Tess, a tricky south paw counter puncher, with elite coach Paul Simpson in her corner.
From round one Lucie set the pace with high pressure, rapid hands and fast feet, not allowing her opponent to get into any rhythm. Lucie was landing beautiful three shot combinations whilst avoiding the ever-dangerous right check hook from her opponent.
After three rounds, the judges gave a unanimous 5-0 decision to Lucie, rewarding her years of hard work and perseverance with her first Irish title and hopefully the first of many.
The experienced seven times national champion, Paige, knows how to put on a show under the big lights and again didn’t disappoint the crowd in her 54kg final.
Paige came up against talented boxer Daisy Kiernan from Dealgan, and with President of Irish Boxing, Anto Donnelly, in her corner, this was one to watch – with talent in the ring and titans in the corners it was going to be a chess match as much as a boxing contest.
Paige began with her normal high-pressure physical attacks but was met with the same pressure and physicality with neither boxer backing off.
Within 30 seconds, coach Jason made the call to Paige to switch fast counters using her fast reflexes to avoid and counter simultaneously which worked to great effect.
With round one 4-1 in favour of Paige, round 2 began with Daisy switching up herself, looking for the left hook and back hand with even more intensity and pressure, with the judges awarding Daisy 3-2 on the cards.
Entering the final decisive round, coach Jason changed his commands with perfect timing, getting Paige to set traps on the ropes, landing heavy counters to Daisy’s high pressure.
As a result, the final round was declared 4-1 in favour of Paige and her hand was raised with the decision, to the delight of her head coach, making it eight National titles and showing why she is current Irish and UK champion.
This was a wonderful championship for the Banbridge club, following the boys’ success at the under 15 Nationals in August, picking up two titles also. Under the expert guidance of coach McKay, the Banbridge club is going from strength to strength with the girls’ and boys’ development.
Lucie celebrates her first Irish title
Moment of victory for Paige (above) and Lucie (below)
Banbridge backing team, including coach Jason McKay
