The Coldstream Boxing Club (CBC) had an opening day with a special guest on Thursday 25 April.
Over 50 people turned up on the day.
Coach Hayden ‘H-Bomb’ Wright said the event was to let the community know about the free training facility in the Yarra Valley.
“It was to meet the parents and get to know each other,” he said.
“We had a barbecue thanks to The Meat-Inn Place Lilydale Butcher who sponsored sausages and the parents who helped cook the sausages.
“Every kid got a pair of boxing gloves thanks to the donation from the Bosker Boxing Equipment.”
The kids did sparring and some games, and kicked the footy during the event.
The special guest was Harry Garside who is a bronze medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“All the kids got his signature,” Wright said.
“It was great to have a champion like him to give his support and backing and who is of note someone in my field of boxing that is wishing me all the best and commending my work with the youth.”
Garside started his boxing career at the Lilydale Community Youth Club at the age of nine with his coach Brian Levier, who is still working together.
He said his brother let him know about the new boxing gym in Coldstream.
“I came down to Melbourne to visit my family for my nephew’s first birthday and I managed to get there [the opening day event],” Garside said.
“It was awesome. There were more young girls than boys which is unusual.”
Garside said it’s “exceptional” to have a gym in Coldstream free for kids.
“I remember how many lives boxing saved, growing up at the Lilydale Community Youth Club,” he said.
“A lot of kids from broken homes in the area came to the boxing gym and that was their safe space.”
The bronze medallist is currently training to win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
When Star Mail asked the young boxer if he was going to visit the gym again, he said “Of course.”
“I plan on bringing the gold medal to show everyone that I met there,” Garside said.
“I hope there will be a few more people as well.”
The timetable for the CBC is confirmed now, one and a half hour classes from 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10am on Saturdays.
“Every kid in the Yarra Valley is welcome to train for free,” Wright said.
“It’s like a social club. We have some games and watch movies as well.”
The date of Wright’s boxing match for the Victorian heavyweight title has been changed to 22 June because his opponent got injured.
The CBC will have a boxing ring soon thanks to the donation from Robyn and David from Coldstream Cafe Roadhouse.
