Hook and Jab Boxing Club, a 2023 success story in and out of the ring

Not only is the facility, which is located on the Palatine Industrial Estate, Causeway Avenue, home of top level boxing, training and coaching, it is also a venue for highly valued community programmes.

And 2024 is all set to see additional plans and projects introduced that will have wide-ranging and far reaching benefits.

“We have produced many national and international gold medals as a gym. However rewarding this may be, it is as rewarding if not more rewarding having boxers enter the ring for the first time, or even training in their first fitness session, not only getting fit, physically but also mentally, confidence building, growing and developing into the best form of themselves they can be,” said Amanda Groarke, who runs the gym with her husband Derek.

“2023 has been such a successful year. We have had the privilege and pleasure of working with the best clubs, groups, organisations and people in and out of Warrington.

“This is only possible with the help, support and dedication from all coaches, amateur boxers, fitness members, and our amazing community.

“2024 will see more young boxers put onto coaching courses ensuring the legacy of the gym continues for decades to come.”

Established over 35 years ago, the club have continued to produce regional, national and international amateur boxing champions.

H&J boxer George Pennington, 18, earned himself a well-deserved place onto the England pathway programme, as well as ending the year by becoming the country's youngest England Boxing judge, while Elise Glynn kept the flag flying for her former club as she became a potential Great Britain Olympian, securing a place onto the GB Podium squad.

George Pennington, second from right

Fifty England registered boxers ranging from 10 to 38 years old are currently on the books, with most being active through the year.

H&J hosted sell-out shows at Alford Hall and were selected as a training venue for the England Youth squad.

During 2023 H&J developed another five England affiliated coaches to their team of seven, four England Boxing judges and three England Boxing affiliated referees.

Four of their coaches are female, the highest number in an ABA club in the country, and all 10 are volunteers.

Amanda has progressed to being one of the highest qualified coaches within Great Britain, being one of only five coaches – the others all being men – in GB with the level four England qualification as well as three-star IBA and WSB APB (highest international qualification within boxing).

She is also a coach educator, delivering England Boxing coaching courses within the gym.

Amanda, a GB performance coach, has also returned to the England coaching team, travelling in 2023 with England to Poland where she cornered and guided the gold medallist who has been selected onto the GB programme with the opportunity to possibly box in the Paris Olympics.

Some of the coaches have run free sports camps for the Warrington Wolves Foundation outside of the gym.

Hook and Jab members

Hook & Jab also run busy fitness classes, including female only, family, inclusion and disability group classes.

In 2023 the club piloted Tots Boxing for children aged three to seven, and worked with other sports teams – rugby and football squads being regulars at H&J.

The Think Fast project was run out of the gym, with former champion professional boxer Martin Murry being the founder.

2023 also kick-started the club’s Muslim community boxing session, run by H&J coaches Asam Khan and Qasim Bani. The diverse class, which quickly expanded and is open to all young men, dads and lads, all communities, is being hailed for bringing communities together and now has more than 30 participants of all ages.

H&J host Fun Day Friday when 18 students aged 13 to 14 with all levels of autism go along in the morning and participate in fun boxing and games.

That is followed in the afternoon with another fun session with Willow Green SEN College students who take part in boxing training in which Hook & Jab coach Harvey Groarke, who has Down's syndrome and autism, puts on the pads to help put his ex-college friends through their paces!

Both of those sessions are free of charge to the students.

Looking at the 2024 calendar, another two boxing shows are booked for Friday, February 23 and Friday, May 24.

H&J plan to open a clothes bank, for which people have already started donating sportswear to help others participate in sport.

A sponsored spar day will take place in February, with the money raised going to local charities. Spar days have raised almost £50,000 over the years.

The club will continue to run the GCSE and A Level in boxing qualification, assisting schools and colleges.