Ffion Evans - once an excellent gymnast but now a great amateur boxing prospect

Ffion Evans is a talented sporting young lady who has arguably the most unusual combination of activities we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk have come across for ages because for ten years she was good enough to represent Wales in artistic gymnastics and tumbling - and now, at 16 years of age has taken up boxing.

She has worked really hard in this very physical sport and has really caught the eye in the ring after comfortably winning her first two bouts, both by the unanimous decision from all three judges.

An interesting start to her new sport . . .

How she took up her commitment to boxing at Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club is interesting because it came after that decade of gymnastic success and she decided she needed to get fitter and build stamina - and chose to give the boxing club a visit to see if she would like it.

She met Graham Brockway and liked what he had to say and as soon as she began working on the pads, punch balls and heavy bags she knew it was for her.

“It is like a second home to me now,” Ffion told us, “with everyone working hard with the excellent coaches - and an atmosphere where everyone encourages each other to do their best.”

. . . And now it is her family’s club!

It is now a view shared by the rest of the Evans’ family, who hail from Clarbeston Road, because on the evening when we paid the gym a visit there were others from the Evans’ clan because also working up a real sweat in training were her mum Suzie, dad Emyr, sister Georgina (14) and brother Ossian (10)!

Such is Ffion’s commitment that she attends training four times a week with two runs added around their Clarbie home so that she has just one rest day - Sunday! It is also worth mentioning that in her busy schedule she is currently studying A Level Psychology and undertaking a course in BTEC Health and Social Care at Castle School, Haverfordwest!.

Great early results show her talents

And that commitment to training has certainly paid off because when she made her debut on a show organised by Pembroke Amateur Boxing Club she beat local boxer Charlotte Kinsella on the unanimous decision of the three judges.

Then it was on to her second bout at Narberth ABC and she enjoyed another unanimous points’ verdict in beating Caitlin Fraser (Cardigan)

Ffion was hoping for a third bout on Merlins Bridge’s recent amazing evening at the Haverfordwest Showground but, try as he might, Graham couldn’t find anyone ready to take her on - and so she hoped to be given an exhibition bout.

Invited to Cardiff to go up to the Welsh squad development training camp

A measure of the progress Ffion has made can be gauged from the fact that she has recently been invited to a training camp with the Welsh Development Squad and been to training at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff – and in ‘Stop Press’ news Ffion has now joined the above squad as a recognized member so well done Ffion!

“It was a great experience and I feel I have already learned a lot - and my aim now is to eventually be good enough to box for Wales.”

Amazing gymnastics success over almost a decade

Going back to her gymnastics, Ffion started when she was only six and took to it like a duck to water since she had what the experts call ‘spacial awareness’ and was soon doing the complicated twists and turns needed to perform routines on floor exercises, followed by more complex work on the beam, uneven bars and vault.

She eventually reached a high standard, a fact supported by the winning of six Welsh titles and at one stage fourth ranking in the whole of the UK.

Then Ffion switched to tumbling and the real challenge of developing a series of complicated moves and routines like flicks, whips and double somersaults over a 25-metre distance tumble track, all done at great pace and with unbelievable heights thrown in for good measure – and more Welsh titles followed.

And finally . . .

But then Ffion found boxing and the rest is history because she is now totally focussed on success there and although she was unable to get matched for Merlins Bridge’s amazing home show she did box an exhibition bout with Maddie Guy (St Davids), who was making her debut – and both boxers showed their relative talents and experience, although naturally there is no winner or loser announced in such a bout.

But at least it allowed Ffion the chance to step in the ring again and there will be more bouts in the near future for sure.

In the meanwhile she will carry on her terrific work in the gym with Mr Brockway and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is sure of one thing – we are going to hear a lot more of Ffion Evans in the future because she is a modest young lady but also very talented and committed once she pulls those boxing gloves on!

in her busy schedule she is currently studying A Level Psychology and BTEC Health and Social Care.