Boxing Success for Luffa Sixth Former Holly Heffron

bishopluffa.org.uk/sixth-form/news/boxing-success-for-luffa-sixth-former-holly-heffron-2/

On just her second time competing at youth level, local talent and Bishop Luffa Sixth
Form student Holly Heffron has won a bronze medal at the National Youth
Championships. This now places her at third place in the country for women’s youth
boxing. Unfortunately, she lost in the semi-final to five time national champion Simran
Kaur in an extremely close match. Holly said that it was ‘one of [her] best performances
to date,’ and ‘a great experience’.

Since first trying boxing in 2014 at the Get Active Festival in Oaklands Park, Chichester,
Heffron’s career has come a long way. Having previously played football for Brighton and
Hove Albion, the young athlete already had a background in sports. In 2017 the now
youth level boxer started training with the England team with hopes of getting her first
vest. She impressed the England coaches and now boxes for her country on the youth
team with England coach Dave Johnston in her corner. She has set her sights high and
aims to make team GB in 2020 and compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Boxing has taken her far and wide. Last year she competed in the Junior European
Boxing Championships held in Russia, one of the biggest tournaments for junior boxers
to be selected for. She has also boxed in many tournaments closer to home, one of her
most memorable being the English Box Cup where she competed in the weight category

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above her own and beat the national champion in the final on a unanimous decision.
Her England squad training in which she participates twice a month alongside her six
training sessions a week take her all over the country.

She has recently competed in the Heart of Portsmouth boxing championship, taking on
Wales’ Zoe Andrewes. She won on points after three rounds. England coach Q
Shillingford told the Portsmouth News that it was a big moment for her and that he
wants the England youth team to ‘inspire future generations’ and make them ‘realise that
they can go on to box for their country like these young boxers.’ He then went on to
express his happiness that international boxing is coming back to Portsmouth and that
‘to have a local boxer involved is brilliant as well.’

‘It’s always an honour representing my country,’ Holly said to describe her experience in
the Heart of Portsmouth boxing championship. ‘This was particularly exciting as it took
place in Southsea so all my friends, family and clubmates came to watch and cheer me
on.’

She is thankful that Bishop Luffa have always been supportive of her passion and the
school is certainly looking forward to seeing her progress in the years to come.

Jack Walker (12Story)

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