Green light for women's boxing

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association has agreed "to take steps to ensure" the introduction of female boxing into its activities within the next year. Pressure for such a move to be made has been growing for some time and scores of girls and women have been training and sparring unofficially in many part of the country. The motion was passed at the a.g.m. of the IABA in the National Stadium yesterday.

The motion was proposed by Philomena Sutcliffe from the Crumlin club in Dublin and supported by the Ulster, Connacht and Munster provincial councils. The Ulster president, Pat McCrory, said that, personally, he was against such a move but that his council had mandated him to support it.

Mary Fitzgerald, from the Kilkenny club, had also proposed that the facilities for boxers in the National Stadium be upgraded immediately. This was passed unanimously and was taken to include the introduction of separate dressing-room and showers for male and female boxers. Proposing the motion Philomena Sutcliffe said countries such as Sweden and Canada had been organising female boxing for some years without any great difficulty.

The motion was seconded by Jim Murrian from Edenderry who said that he had been approached by several girls who wanted to box. "I can't see why not. We had a kick-boxing tournament in our club recently and there were far more girls than boys involved in it. I would prefer those girls to be involved in our kind of boxing."

The president of the Connacht Council, Joe Heneghan said that at least 50 girls were involved in boxing in his province. "I believe they should be given a chance. I can't see why we can't sort out any problems," he said.

Dr Sean Donnelly, the chairman of the IABA medical committee said that the medical profession had already taken an interest in the matter and was satisfied that any problems could be overcome.

Noel Humpston said that the IABA had to face the fact that the move could not be stopped. "However I would like to see the women set up their own organisation as they have done in golf and tennis and other sports. I am fully in favour of giving them every encouragement and support," he said.

A number of prominent members of the association failed to win election to the elite standing committee, notably the former president, Nicky White, from Wexford, Tom Foxe, the former TD from Roscommon, and the prominent referee, Jackie Poucher from Newry. Those elected (with votes cast in brackets) were: Gerry Storey (180), Austin Carruth (179), Martin Power (179), Christy McKenna (178), Sean Horkan (176), Sean Canavan (151), John Mahon (137) and Tony Mahon (125).

Other elections resulted in the appointment of Joe Kirwan as vice-president on a vote of 185 to 43 over Jim Murrian, Comdt Jim Hunt as treasurer on a vote of 153 to 73 over Dominic Kiernan and Tommy Murphy, as treasurer - beat George Peters by 166 votes to 63.

The acting president Breandain O Conaire and the acting secretary, Crowley, were elected unopposed. Breandain O Conaire that an emergency general meeting to discuss the matter would be held subsequently.