MEMBERS of a Northside boxing club have every reason to look forward to the year ahead, and in particular, one of its rising stars.
Paul Ryan (16) is one of the leading lights at Bay City Boxing Club. In late 2015 he won a bronze medal in Russia when he boxed for Ireland in the European Cadet Championships after winning the National Senior Cadet Championship in the 66kg category.
Paul, who has been with the club since he was 11, recorded three very comprehensive victories in Russia before losing out in a very close contest at the semi-final stage. He is the Dublin League Champion in his division, Dublin Championship Champion for the last five years and won his first national title in 2013. That year he went on to represent Ireland at the European Schoolboy Championships and claimed the silver medal.
He is now part of the High Performance Unit in the IABA at the National Stadium. Bay City Boxing Club was founded in Bayside in 1978 and moved to Kilbarrack in 1979. They have had numerous County and National Champions in their proud history and currently have five National/former National champions in their ranks. The club caters for boys and girls from the age of eight upwards and is always looking for new members. Training times for new members are Wednesday 6.30pm to 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 11.30pm. For more information, contact club secretary Neil Aylward on 087-2461811.