Sport

B Company Boxers Take 3 RIFLES Honours In Edinburgh

Boxers from B Company, the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles have taken top honours at an annual tournament at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh.

16 soldiers from 3 RIFLES took to the ring for the inter-company competition, which decides the unit's best boxers.

It marks the start of the troops' boxing season, with fighters going head-to-head to win glory for their company.

The first bout was a B Company stand-off. It got off to an even start before B Company's Rifleman Shaun Witworth gained pace and momentum to secure the win over his opponent, Rifleman Calum Richards.

For the next bout, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Scots DG) were brought in to even out the weight categories.

All the way from Leuchars, near Dundee, was Lance Corporal Ryan McClymont.

The lack of support did him no favours though. He was quickly on the floor before 3 RIFLES' Shaun Moore claimed an easy win by knockout.

Fellow Scots DG, Trooper Connor Brown, didn't fare much better. In one of the shortest bouts of the night, he took on C Company's Rfn Scot Jones.

Rfn Jones had the clear advantage throughout. Tpr Brown stood his ground but in the end admitted defeat and stopped the fight. He said:

"I think at the beginning I started off really well but I was taking a lot of shots.

"Because he's such a big, strong lad, every time he hit me I could see white light. I think it's fair enough that it was stopped."

On the win, Rfn Jones said: "He caught us with a massive right in the jaw. It was a good one.

"I thought I might have been done [for] after that but I just kept on going and pushing forward."

The second half of proceedings saw the match of the night: A Company's Rfn Caleum Charlton and C Company's Rfn Brad Morris.

Rfn Morris received by far the loudest cheer of the evening - but it wasn't enough to lead him to victory.

After an adrenaline-fuelled three rounds, a lot of blood and a lucky couple of shots, Rfn Charlton took the win over the night's most gallant boxer. He said:

"He fought well. I walked in with a game plan and just got punched straight out of it. So I just went with it and was, fortunately, the winner."

Rfn Morris was disappointed with the result but said he gave his all:

"I had to jump up one weight category at the last minute, so I've tried my best. [I] just jumped straight into it. It was worth a try."

The final two bouts saw a change in pace, with B Company and C Company each securing another win.

But overall, with half of the victors, it was a solid effort for the night's winners, B Company.

So the unit's first tournament is out of the way. Most of the boxers will now be busy training ahead of a trip to Cyprus to take on 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's regiment, early next year.