A Newton primary school got an unusual PE lesson last week when O’Neils Boxing Club put the pupils through their paces.
The Cambuslang boxing club, who train in the Westburn Community Centre on Northbank Avenue, put up a ring in the gym hall at St Charles Primary School to give the kids a real boxing experience.
The equipment, including the ring, gloves and pads, was supplied by the South Lanarkshire Community Payback scheme, which gets funding from the proceeds-of-crime initiative.
Coaches Andy Clayton and Kaliegh McCallum got the boys and girls working hard, giving them an introduction to the age-old sport. Club chairman Johnny Harland was on hand to pass on some tips.
Sandy Williamson, of O’Neils, helped to organise the sessions and said: “Johnny used to be a delegate and is now the club chairman and advisor, he has a wealth of knowledge and is a great asset to the club.
“We were invited to the school by head teacher, Mrs Harris, who was very impressed with the training and equipment we took along.
“This was the first chance we had to use our new boxing ring and it went down a storm.”
Seventeen-year-old boxer Gary Ducie went along to lend a hand and proved to be an inspiration to the young kids. Sandy added: “He is a real natural at teaching them how to box and perform all the exercises properly.”
Simon Ryan, who is the placement co-ordinator for Community Payback was impressed.
He said: “It’s great to see such a positive outcome from the work I do.”
Club delegate and coach Scott Spence attended along with coach Sandy Williamson to assist due to the amount of children keen to participate.
For more information on O’Neils Boxing Club visit http://www.freewebs.com/oneilsboxingclub/
