The new Cayman Islands Amateur Boxing Association had a board meeting last week and introduced a new membership card system for the D. Dalmain Ebanks gym starting from early next month.
The gym, part of the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, has a thriving boxing set-up with amateurs, schools and individuals all using the excellent facilities under the watchful eyes of coaches Nayon ‘Donie’ Anglin, Norman Wilson and Troy O’Neil. Champion junior-middleweight Charles ‘Killa’ Whittaker also trains and coaches there.
The gym is vast and regularly holds shows there. In the past Aruba, Jamaica and the Bahamas have sent teams here to box locals.
The new board was elected in July with Terence Spencer becoming the new president. The other newly elected members of the Cayman Islands Boxing Association were Jarladth Travers (director), Leyla Jackson (secretary), Emily McGhee (assistant secretary), Shernett Watson (treasurer), Chrissie Harford (director), Dawn Rodriguez (director), Sharon Francis (assistant secretary), Ann-Marie Byrd (1st vice-president) and Jan Golaszewski (2nd vice-president).
Top amateurs at the gym are Dariel Ebanks, Kendall Ebanks, Thomas McField, Diego and Raymond Rodriguez and Tafari Ebanks some of whom may go to the next Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Girls and women train there too, as do ‘white collar’ (office workers) boxers. Jessica McFarlane-Richards and Tracey Seymour are female boxers who have represented the club with distinction in recent years.
“We hope that this move will make the gym more user friendly and encourage people to come and work out there and take advantage of the amazing training sessions offered by our experienced coaches,” said Leyla Jackson.
“The box-fit evening class run by Troy is already very popular, especially with women looking to tone up, get fit and also learn some defensive moves in the process.”
Gym fees are payable monthly at $25, or quarterly or annually so offer very flexible and competitive rates.
“We are also pleased to announce that for the first time, we will be offering a discount scheme for those who wish to pay their membership in advance,” added Jackson. There will be $40 per year discount for those who pay quarterly and $50 for annual payers. Not only that, but as the boxing association is a charitable organisation, gym fees go straight back into assisting the young boxers in the national team to achieve success in Rio 2016 and other international arenas.”
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