England announce squad for EUBC Schools European Championships 2022

A team of 21 boxers has been named by England for the EUBC Schools European Championships 2022, to be staged in Erzurum, Turkey from 10th to 21st August.

The team of nine girls and 12 boys was agreed by selectors after a Selection Camp was held in Tamworth last weekend (25th June).

Four girls and three boys have also been chosen as reserves.

Because of Covid-19, it is the first time an England team has competed at a EUBC Schools European Championships since the 2019 edition in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Back then, England took a team of 19 boxers and returned with 14 medals, so will be hoping for a similar haul this summer.

“The selectors only pick boxers who they think have a genuine medal chance, so it’s encouraging to see how large the team for this tournament is,” said Andrea Rankine, England Boxing’s Interim Talent Pathway Manager.

“It also shows that the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions that were imposed by the government did not deter anyone or hold them back… if anything it made them even stronger and more determined, and huge credit should go to the boxers’ respective clubs for the part they have played.

“One notable selection is that of Noah Barney-Smith, whose brother, Royston, represented England in this tournament in 2018 and returned with a gold medal. No doubt Noah will be hoping to emulate the feats of his sibling!”

England squad

Girls

Under 36kg – Leah Paylor (Wimborne, Western Counties); Under 40kg – Layla Straughan (North Star, Tyne, Tees and Wear); Under 42kg – Serena Mali (Cleary’s, Midlands); Under 44kg – Jaya Kalsi (Cleary’s, Midlands); Under 46kg – Ruby Cuthbertson (District Youth, Tyne, Tees and Wear, pictured above); Under 48kg – Ruby Took (Crowle, East Midlands); Under 51kg – Rosanna Bycroft (Legions, Yorkshire); Under 57kg – Rihanna Holden (Phil Thomas, Tyne, Tees and Wear); Under 60kg – Lexie Walker (Wodensborough, Midlands).

Reserves: Under 40kg – Under 42kg – Ella Doe (Mackenzie’s, Western Counties); Under 57kg – Rianna Doforo (The People’s Gym, North West).

Boys

Under 40kg – Harry Scadeng (Repton, London); Under 42kg – George Francis (Repton, London); Under 44kg – George Ralph (Rainham, London); Under 48kg – Noah Barney-Smith (Camberley, Southern Counties); Under 50kg – Paddy McDonagh (White Hart Lane, London); Under 52kg – Tom Connors (Synwell, Western Counties); Under 54kg – Isaac Huczmann (Leicester Lightning, East Midlands); Under 57kg – John Hodgkins (Mikey’s Midlands); Under 60kg – Anthony McCarthy (Camberley, Southern Counties); Under 63kg – Johnny Crittenden (Pinewood, Home Counties); Under 66kg – Bailey Wilding (Mikey’s Midlands); Under 80kg – Tobias Taylor (New Saints, Eastern Counties, pictured below).

Reserves: Under 40kg – Zack Rackevic (Repton, London); Under 66kg – Luke Harper (Weedon, East Midlands).