RADSTOCK residents have expressed sadness at the closure of the local boxing gym after more than a decade.
Norton Radstock ABC, at Coombend will be going under the hammer on November 11 as club coach Sean Jenkins hangs up his gloves for good.
In an online statement, Sean announced: “It is with a heavy heart that I'm letting you all know that I'm closing down my boxing club and, in doing so, the owners have now decided to put the old building up for auction.”
The club opened 12 years ago and over the years had its fair share of success, with stand-out names including Cain Rogers - the first boxer ever to represent the club - and Max Francis, their first boxer to represent the Western Counties in a team match against the Southern Counties.
Sean added: “Cameron Walker became our first Western Counties Champion and more recently Shayne Smith, winning a number of Box Cup competitions, a Western Counties Champion and a National semi-finalist all in his first 15 months of competition.”
Overheads alongside dwindling membership made it difficult for the gym to be sustainable, says the head coach, and paved the way for his decision to walk away from the sport. He said: “Every month it was hard work paying our rent; every quarter it was hard work to pay our bills, let alone building a savings pot for the future.”
Sean likes to think he has helped mould its members into “good respectable people,” something as a coach, he says he always wanted to drill into each and every one of them.
He said: “Watching young people grow in stature, build confidence and skills needed to represent the club in a competition bout is such a proud moment, it changes their lives.”
The club is also proud of its commitment to people suffering with Parkinson's Disease providing a class on Wednesday nights and also a Ladies Only fitness class.
He added: “I'd like to think I've served the people of all ages from Radstock, Midsomer Norton and the surrounding towns well and fairly, after all, a boxing gym is not meant to be easy.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the local people who have helped improve the building and the tradesman who have done their fair share of repairs to an old building like ours; not forgetting the graffiti artist whose artwork lit up the gym from the outside.
“I feel immensely proud of what the club has achieved over the years.”
Auctioneer Stephen Morris from with City and Rural Property Auctions, said: “After many years as a local gym and more recently an Amateur Boxing Club we anticipate bidding from a variety of prospective buyers.
“The unit could continue as an indoor sports facility, however there is potential for residential development subject to planning consents.
“Early interest has been encouraging and we look forward to offering the unit for sale on November 11 at 6.30pm.”
All sessions will run as normal up to the auction date and the gym’s equipment will also be up for sale.