Grange Academy’s Scottish champion
Grange Academy’s Destany Robertson (16) became Kilmarnock’s first Scottish female champion after taking gold at the recent Scottish Schools and Junior boxing Championships.
Representing Northwest Amateur Boxing Club, Destany, who is an East Ayrshire Talented Athlete, competed in the 50kg school-girls category against Maggie White of Craigmillar Boxing Club, Edinburgh. Maggie, who is an experienced and quality opponent, had beaten Destany in two previous fights so the stage was set for a three round thriller.
Destany, who has been boxing with the club for four years, said: “I was really focused on becoming Scottish champion. In the run up to the fight, I was training three days a week at the club, doing extra running - trying to fit in three miles every other day and sticking to a strict calorie controlled diet to make sure I made my weight.
“Winning the Scottish championships is brilliant but it is just the beginning. My next fight will be at the club’s annual dinner show at the Park Hotel on 27 April then I will be competing at the GB Youth and Junior Championships in Wales in May. And I will be doing my exams in between so it’s going to be a busy couple of months.”
Councillor Fiona Campbell, Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning, visited Destany at Grange Academy to congratulate her on her achievement. Cllr Campbell was joined by Steven Mair from the Council’s Talented Athlete programme, Graeme Marshall from Northwest Boxing Club, Kieran McMaster, the Council’s Sports Mentor and a Northwest boxer and head teacher Robert Johnston.
Councillor Campbell said: “I was delighted to meet Destany and congratulate her on becoming Scottish champion. She has shown real spirit and commitment to her sport to lift the gold medal at the Scottish Championships.
“Destany is a credit to Grange Academy and she has demonstrated all of the school’s values – respect, responsibility, resilience, excellence and ambition, by achieving her goal of becoming Scottish champion.”
Find out more about the Northwest Amateur Boxing Club
https://www.facebook.com/Northwest.Amateur.Boxing.Club/
Find out more about the Talented Athlete Programme