UP
MEET THE BUSY BOXER: by Archie Quick
Link to the Hemming Belt Trophy
|
Link to the Army's Inter-Unit Team Boxing Trophy The King's Shield
|
Seconds out for Albert hardy by Colin Booth pdf file
This is an extract from the BANEWS service 433 Holloway Road London N7 ref 56341 1067 568 Wednesday, 8th May 1968
COLIN BOOTH OF RASC/RCT FIVE FIGHTS IN 10 DAYS
The busiest boxer in the British Army, That's English International Corporal Colin Booth, of 6th Training Regiment, RCT, stationed at Yeovil.
Because of the success of his unit reaching the United Kingdom Section Final of the Amy Inter Unit Team Championship before losing to the lst Bn, King's Regiment (Manchester and Liverpool) at Ballykinler, Booth has been doubly involved.
Not only had he this RCT commitment pressing heavily upon him, but also he has been busily employed getting through the exhausting stages of the Army Championship, which he won at light welterweight.
This meant more contests, and, after winning the Combined Services title at the RAF Station, Cosford, he was engaged in quick succession in the ABA National quarter-final against Wales at Porthcawl and the semi-finals at Bellevue, Manchester.
It was victory, victory all the way for the Coventry man, and thus he reached the Grand Finals at Wembley Empire Pool where only one obstacle remains between him and the prized ABA Championship.
Booth, a married man, living with his wife and two children at Yeovil, won 19 of his senior contests this past winter season, his only defeat being in his International debut in Belfast when he was narrowly out-pointed by the experienced McCourt, possibly Ireland's best boxer.
In the course of one hectic 10 day spell he fought major bouts on 11th, 13th, l5th, l9th and 21st of March and won the lot! Apart from Wembley's glittering triumph there lay before him the possibility of another outstanding honour the coveted Hemming" Belt.
This is awarded to a Regular member of the Corps or RCT/T&AVT boxer whom the RCT Boxing Association adjudges to have done most in the ring to bring credit to the Corps. If Booth should be awarded it he will become the first man to have won it three times in the history of the RASC/RCT.
Booth is 23, and as he has completed only five of his 22 years Service his experience to both his Corps and the Army inside and outside the ring should be available until 1985 He started boxing when he was 10 years old. He won the Army light welterweight title in 1967, but lost the Combined Services to Leading Seaman Ron Adam.
This year he again lifted the Army crown, and reversed the decision with Adam in the CSBA Finals. He was also Amy Finalist in 1965 and 1966, but was beaten on each occasion by Trooper Brendan O'Sullivan of the Irish Guards
NOTABLE VICTORIES
This winter he has fought once for England, once for the Army representative side, four times for the 6th Training Regiment, RCT, in the Army Inter-Unit Team Championship, six times against civilians, four times in the Army Championship, and twice each in the Combined Services and ABA Championships.
Some of his victories have been notable, particularly in beating holder Adam in the CSBA Final, in out-pointing Welsh International Dennis Delbridge at Porthcawl, and overcoming the Jamaican Empire Games silver medalist, Ronnie Thurston, at Manchester. Thurston, a strong favourite to win the National title, was put down twice in the first round.
Seconds out for Albert hardy by Colin Booth pdf file
Colin Booth presented with the Hemming Belt Trophy for being the most outstanding boxer in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC)during 1968 season presented by Brig Boris Eastwood and commanding officer Col Elliott at Houndstone Camp Yeovil.
