Zach to add to his prize list at ABA awards night

DOUBLE national champion and new England international Zach Parker will add another trophy to his collection when the Derbyshire Amateur Boxing Association celebrates the previous season at its annual dinner at The Spot in Derby tomorrow.

The 18-year-old middleweight from Swadlincote ABC won the CYP Championships and the Royal Navy Junior ABA titles to earn his international vest.

As he sets out on his first season in the seniors with the target of forcing his way into the reckoning for the 2016 Olympic Games, Parker has been named best youth boxer for the Derby City Trophy in the county's awards.

Five national titles came back to Derbyshire last season. Senior Novice flyweight champion Dinesh Puri of South Normanton has added the Len Wilkinson Trophy for the best novice, while Sandy Ryan (One Nation) and Talia Anthony (Chadd) were among the winners of special awards to mark their accomplishments in the Female ABA Championships.

Two other county boxers reached national finals, among them Trinity heavyweight Russ Henshaw, named the best novice in last year's awards, who graduated to the best senior boxer prize for the Millennium Trophy after just failing to defend his Senior Novice title.

The Ashbourne Trophy for the best junior boxer also went to Trinity, with Haydon Clarke marking a good first season since making the move from Pro Fitness.

A family double was completed by Buxton's Giann Magno, who has taken the Lewis Yacomini Trophy for the best schoolboy in the season after his brother, Irvin, was named the best first season boxer.

That award this season, for the Harry Norman Aldred Memorial Trophy, went this time to Zak Smedley of Trinity.

Jon Pickering will collect two prizes at the awards night. The tall Buxton youngster has won the Gerdes Trophy as the most improved boxer and is this year's most promising junior.

Most promising senior is South Normanton's Ryan Fields, who had an outstanding comeback year.

The Noel Whitehall Trophy for the most sporting junior has gone to Callum Parker (Royal Oak), with Kyle Hughes (Trinity) the most sporting senior for the David Brady Trophy.

Jordan Bennett (Buxton) was the winner of the Contender Trophy for the best junior novice, while the Derby Telegraph Trophies, for the best bout of the year, went to Zavier Hobby (Chadd) and Ryan Turner (Chesterfield) for their Junior ABA meeting in March.

This season's outstanding coach award, for the Sam Hinkley Trophy, has gone to South Normanton's Joe Elliott, while Trinity coach Scott Rafferty collects the Matlock Trophy for his outstanding contribution to Derbyshire boxing.