Northland proved it was a playground of potential boxing stars when three youngsters returned home with gold at the 2009 New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships in Rotorua.
It was a proud moment for Whangarei United Boxing Gym coach Ricci Malcolm who said the last time Northland boxers won national titles was
more than 20 years ago.
The three medallists won their respective awards while competing under the umbrella of the Auckland Boxing Association.
Reece Bermingham, of Whangarei, won the 54kg Cadet Male national title for Northland following his victory over Waikato's Sheldon Whalley. Bermingham won in three rounds - 6-2, 12-4, 14-7.
Talea Kask, also of Whangarei, took the 50kg Cadet Female national title unopposed for Northland.
Kask was unfortunate not to get a bout although there were four females within the cadet grade.
Officials tried to match Kask and her old foe, Thea Awhitu of Wanganui/ Taranaki in the 50kg Cadet class, but Awhitu failed to make weight and was put up to the 52kg weight division, Malcolm said.
The Auckland association is is trying to arrange a match between Kask and Awhitu in Auckland in the near future.
Meanwhile, Deanne Carpenter of Oakura Boxing Gym, won the 57kg Cadet Female National title unopposed for Northland.
There was no one in Carpenter's weight division in her class.
However she now has her sights on a match against Tegan Madden, from Canterbury, who is in the same weight division but in the Junior Female Class.
Although Kask and Carpenter did not have the opportunity to fight, both should be commended for their diligence and commitment to the long hours of hard training and fitness, which started many months ago in preparation for the nationals, Malcolm said.
At the championships, Auckland Boxing Association entered 22 competitors in different weight divisions and classes. They won eight New Zealand gold medals, along with five silver, and three unopposed national titles.
