HARWICH Boxing Club held their annual meeting and presentation night.

It took place at their gym in Main Road, Dovercourt.

An appreciative audience heard of the exploits of the boxers over the last season, in the club’s 21st year, since formation in April 1997.

The premier award, the President's Cup, is awarded to the boxer who has amassed the best results over the year-long season and this year’s silverware went to 20-year-old light-heavyweight Patrick Allen Cripps.

Allen Cripps had a busy and successful season, culminating in nine wins from 13.

This included making the national England Boxing Elite and National Amateur Boxing Championship finals.

As a result of his finals appearances, he gained a place on the England Talent programme and made his international debut in June, gaining a silver medal in the Tri Nations Championships in Rotherham.

Allen Cripps' excellent season also saw him awarded the Tom Parsons Memorial Cup for best senior boxer.

Alas, due to work commitments, he was unable to attend the presentation evening but a pre-recorded video message was played to the audience.

The USC Shield club champion runner-up spot went to last year's club champion, 21-year-old Paul Gordon.

His excellent season saw him win the Essex and Eastern Counties England Boxing Elite welterweight titles and a gold at the Haringey Box Cup.

His season log saw him win a very creditable eight from 11 contests, with the three losses all via close split points decisions.

Gordon's win in the Haringey Box Cup final against a four-time Irish national champion and former European bronze medallist saw him win the Harwich Shoecraft Cup for best performance of the season.

Eighteen-year-old youth boxer Rio Gordon had a breakout season with an impressive six wins from seven, with the only defeat coming on a split points decision to the eventual national youth champion of England.

Highlights saw him lift impressive belt prizes in the Suffolk BA show in Felixstowe and the prestigious Haringey Box Cup in London.

At the presentation night, Rio's season's exploits gained him the Rotary Club Shield for best youth boxer for the second year running, plus the Harrison Heating Solutions Cup for boxers' boxer of the year.

The Smiler Perkins Trophy, sponsored by the Ipswich ex-boxers association, for best elite prospect went to 18-year-old Kilian Hardy, who won three from four contests over the last 12 months.

However, he had his progress checked with a four-month ring absence due to injury mid-season.

Other trophies included the Frankie Meacham Memorial Cup for best newcomer and went to Sam Campbell, who registered three wins from five in his debut season.

The HIP Cup for best schoolboy boxer went to 12-year-old Cameron Walker.

The KMS Cup for best junior boxer was won by experienced 15-year-old Jack Farrow and finally the Harwich Rugby Club Shield for best club member went to Dedham resident Leo Baxter.

Representative awards went to all of the above boxers mentioned and juniors Baxter and Peter Foster and new elite boxer Peri Johnson.

Head coach Martin Webb said: "We're keeping the momentum going after a successful 2016/17 season, as this current season has been as good if not better.

"My ambition since becoming a coach has always been to guide a boxer to become a senior elite ABA champion and we came so close, with Patrick just dipping out on a split points decision at York Hall in April.

"However, I'm confident because along with Patrick, we also have brothers Paul and Rio Gordon.

"All of them have realistic chances to achieve that ambition in the next 12 to 24 months.

"It's also great to see we have strength in depth, with useful schoolboy, junior and youth boxers all developing so well at the club.

"We will have a short break from full training now and then commence pre-season training towards the end of August."