Inverness City Boxing Club head coach celebrates his 100th champion
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INVERNESS City Boxing Club head coach Laurie Redfern celebrated a milestone at the Boxing Scotland National Development Championships after he coached his 100th champion during his career.
The 74-year-old celebrated a century of winners when four of his boxers won gold at the national championships at Ravenscraig.
Alasdair Last (16) won the 63kg category with Jonathan Karnphan (14) taking the 51kg title, Robert Stewart (14) winning the 50kg category and Kian Stewart (12) coming out on top in the 42kg category.
In addition, Tyler Macpherson (14) won silver in the 41kg category in what was an impressive performance from the club.
Redfern says with the quality of athletes at his club, he was always confident he would reach 100 champions for his career.
“Before the pandemic I was on 97 winners and the last couple of years had a big impact on shows and tournaments,” he said.
“But going into these championships, I thought these lads had a great chance of coming back as champions.
“It was fantastic four of the lads came back with gold medals, with one silver medallist who was in a really close fight in the final.
“On a personal level it is great to have reached 100 winners during my career.
“It has made other clubs take notice of us and be worried about taking on our boxers.”
The former Royal Marines Reserve first made an impact in his coaching career in the 1970’s in Shetland when he started a club while working at the Sullom Voe oil and gas terminal.
He took 10 fighters from Shetland to the Scottish Boxing Championships with eight athletes winning titles on the club’s debut.
Redfern’s talent was noticed and he was hired by Boxing Scotland to help coach boxers competing across the world.
Redfern then established Inverness City Boxing Club in 1996 at the Cameron Youth Centre in Planefield Road.
The club relocated to Merkinch Welfare Hall in 2017.
Redfern says he has been proud to have helped so many boxers realise their potential.
“I think these lads can go on to achieve more success in the future,” said Redfern.
“The key to success is starting them young, with the kids starting at my club at 10. I never thought I would ever have reached 100 champions during my career when I started in Shetland.”
