HARWICH Amateur Boxing Club are celebrating after joining an elite group.

The Main Road outfit have been awarded Sport England Clubmark status – making them a leading light in north Essex.

Colchester ABC are the only other club in the area to have gained the prestigious award.

And of an estimated 800 clubs in the UK, only around 50 have the Clubmark.

Founder member and head coach Martin Webb said: “Clubs have been encouraged to go through this process by our governing body, the Amateur Boxing Association of England.

“It’s been a tough, intense and rigorous process during the last two or three months, but very beneficial.

“It’ll help us operate more effectively, by refreshing the way we do things, and the whole thing has been very worthwhile."

For the full story, see this week's Standard.