Irvine Vineburgh boxer Brooke Neely shrugged off a freak sparring injury to be crowned British champion for a record-breaking third time.
The 17-year-old became the first female fighter to achieve the feat after triumphing at the GB Three Nations Championships in Barnsley at the weekend.
She beat England’s Maddie Gittins by unanimous decision in the Youth 48kg final to claim her third title in a row at the prestigious event.
Brooke, from Stevenston, was left sweating on her fitness just a week before the competition after suffering a nasty cheekbone injury in training.
Vineburgh coach Alec Mullen revealed: “She was caught by an accidental elbow in sparring and left black and blue. Thankfully the doctor gave her the go-ahead to fight.
“Brooke was terrific again. That’s three in a row but she could have been looking at five but for Covid. She’s a great role model for everyone at our club.”
Brooke’s injury did come at a cost, however.
Alec added: “She was supposed to carry the Scottish flag into the arena but the photographs might not have looked too clever!”
Fellow Vineburgh fighter Mason Salmon, 15, lost out to England’s Louis Szeto in the male 48kg final.
Alec added: “It was a close one. It could have gone either way.”
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