78 AUGUST 2019 http://www.soldiermagazine.co.ukRESERVISTS ON BOARD AS NEW SEASON LOOMS
T
HE Army boxing team has
boosted its talent pool by
welcoming two Reservists
to the full-time ranks.
Pte Ben Vaughan (Para) and
Pte Lily Devlin (RAMC) joined the
esteemed set-up earlier this year
and tasted action at the Haringey
Box Cup as the 2018/19 season
drew to a close.
Both hope to return to the fold
as training for the new campaign
gets under way later this month
and with impressive pedigrees
to their name they will be well
placed to push for elite titles.
Vaughan is a former national
champion at schoolboy, junior
and youth levels and represented
England at the Commonwealth
Youth Games.
He followed in his father’s
footsteps by joining The
Parachute Regiment and the
20-year-old was immediately
drawn to the Army boxing team
given its glowing reputation in
the amateur sport.
“It is amazing,” the
welterweight told SoldierSport.
“It’s like the Team GB set-up, justwith a different name.
“You have everything you need
in terms of quality coaching,
nutrition and physiotherapy.
“I’ve only been here since
May but I’ve definitely improved
in that time. My diet is much
better and the physio can look at
any small injuries or problems
straight away.
“I came here to gain
more experience and in this
environment you are bound to
improve as a boxer.”
Fellow 20-year-old Devlin
only started boxing five years
ago but already counts national
development and under-21 titles
among her many accolades.
She joined the Reserves in
2018 and was drawn to the squad
via the power of social media.
“I started following them on
Instagram after I completed
basic training but didn’t realise
you could box on the team as a
Reservist,” the bantamweight
fighter explained.
“I was invited to come for some
sparring and it went from there.
“I love it; there’s good varietyin the sessions and coaches and
I’ve been impressed with the
facilities on offer.
“A lot of people from here have
been very successful.
“We have three girls away with
Team GB and Cpl Alanna Nihell
(RLC) was a medallist at the
Commonwealth Games.
“LCpl Megan Reid (RLC) is a
current Scottish champion and
the men have done really well.
“You can only gain from having
that level of experience around
you. I’ve definitely improved
technically, and mentally I feel a
lot stronger.”
Coach Sgt James Allen
(REME) said the duo are the first
Reservists to train full-time with
the squad and he hopes more
will now follow.
“They have real pedigree and
with the Army getting smaller
this could be a way forward,”
he added. “There will be boxers
out there who have been on the
wrong side of a decision that
could have seen them push on for
Team GB. We could really benefit
from that.” ■BOXING
RING WALK: FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE FOLLOW @ARMYBOXINGTEAM ON TWITTER"YOU
ARE
BOUND
TO
IMPROVE
AS A
BOXER"
78-79-sol-aug.indd 1 25/07/2019 14:25