The Bexhill venue played host to a capacity gathering of between 250 and 300 fight fans at West Hill Boxing Club's annual show. Pictured right is Dale Brooker (West Hill)

West Hill coach Dave Bishop said: "There was a great atmosphere and it was a very good show."

There were 17 bouts in total and the prizes were presented by one-time World Light Welterweight Champion Terry Marsh. Fred Frewin, an ex-national champion for West Hill, was also in attendance and the two former stars entered the ring together at one point much to the delight of the vociferous audience.

Marsh, pictured (left) who was promoting a book entitled "Undefeated", also found time to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The highlight of the evening for the host club was Barry Buchanan's stunning welterweight victory over ex-England international and Senior ABA Championship semi-finalist Neil Wray (Moulsecoomb).

Buchanan (pictured below right) has taken his game to a new level during the second half of the season and gave further notice of his marked improvement with a unanimous points success.

The other two senior bouts involving local competitors ended in disappointment for Adam Hanniver (heavyweight) and John Verlander (light welterweight).

Seven West Hill juniors were in action and they achieved a mixed bag of results with four wins being offset by three defeats. Lee Jones (16 years, 70 kilos), Ollie Bristow (14 years, 56 kilos), Kyle Logan (13 years, 40 kilos), who was making his West Hill debut only a day after his 13th birthday, and Dale Brooker (11 years, 25 kilos) were triumphant.

Conroy Gaynor (16 years, 59 kilos), Simon Powell (16 years, 57 kilos) and Ben White (15 years, 53 kilos), however, were on the wrong end of the judges' decisions.

West Hill Boxing Club would like to thank main sponsors Karma Security, Jewson Timber & Builders Merchants Ltd and The Marina Fountain public house.

Selected results: Seniors - Barry Buchanan (West Hill) beat Neil Wray (Moulsecoomb) unanimous; Simon Hopkins (Billingshurst) beat Adam Hanniver (West Hill) unanimous; Alan Swan (Faversham) beat John Verlander (West Hill) unanimous. Juniors - Lee Jones (West Hill) beat Phil Navichas (Gallus, Brighton) majority; Billy Moy (Finchley) beat Conroy Gaynor (West Hill) unanimous; Tommy Ward (St George's, London) beat Simon Powell (West Hill) majority; Rhys Field (Finchley) beat Ben White (West Hill) unanimous; Ollie Bristow (West Hill) beat Connor Stuart (Crawley) majority; Kyle Logan (West Hill) beat Frank Johnson jnr (Chichester) unanimous; Dale Brooker (West Hill) beat Billy Tift (Romford) unanimous.

Copyright Hastings Observer
28 May 2006