NORTON Radstock Amateur Boxing Club’s Shayne Smith competed in the finals of the National Junior Championships over the weekend in Kettering where he reached the semi-finals in the Cadet section.

However, head coach Sean Jenkins is full of praise for the 14-year-old, saying: “As this particular journey comes to an end it’s the beginning of another for Shayne.

"Seeing a Norton Radstock boxer representing the club in such a prestigious event has always been a dream of mine, so I was mighty proud to see Shayne being the first. He should feel immensely proud of himself for getting this far in only his first 11 months of competing.

“Within that short time he's won a gold medal at the Bristol Box Cup, two silvers in two other box cups, was recently crowned Western Counties champion and last weekend he won a bronze medal in his first experience of the National Junior Championships! That's a pretty good start for his first 12 bouts. Unfortunately in his semi-final he was beaten on points against the eventual winner, a somewhat bitter sweet feeling.”

With this experience behind him Sean confidently predicts Shayne will be back next year that's for sure.

"I'm overwhelmed with pride for the lad and he deserves all the praise he received from everyone over the weekend”, he continued.

“He's worked extremely hard in the gym, and when he's not in the gym you can find him pounding the streets doing his roadwork before school. He's sparred hundreds of rounds with other boys his weight, and like a true professional he has never missed weight.”

Shayne now takes a rest for the coming weeks as his body recovers and he enjoys the natural 'filling out' process and then he'll be prepared for a return in late April in a higher weight category.