ST HELENS Town Amateur Boxing Club ace Stephen Birch received a cracking 18th birthday present when he was named Best under-19s Boxer of The Year by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The talented teenager was presented with the prestigious honour at a glittering ceremony staged at London's Bloomsbury Hotel and attended by a host of boxing 'names' - including Chris Finnegan, Howard Winstone, Dave 'Boy' Green and Billy Walker.

And former Olympic champion Finnegan, who later went on to British and European title glory as a pro, took time out to offer Birch some words of advice. The event was the culmination of a successful season for Stephen who has just returned from the European Junior Championships in Croatia where he picked up a bronze medal to add to his two National Association of Boys Clubs titles and two Junior ABA crowns.

A senior ABA crown is next in his sights and club officials are hopeful of Commonwealth and even Olympic glory in the not-too-distant future for Birch who currently operates in the welterweight division and has won Sports Council grant aid to help him stay in the amateur ranks.

The next immediate date in his diary though is the Bobbies Lane club's own dinner show to be staged at the St Helens Town Ground, Hoghton Road, Sutton on Thursday, November 18.

He will be joined there by clubmates and fellow England internationals, Gary Davies and Martin Murray on a top-class bill featuring 12 or 14 contests. Also on offer on the night is a five-course meal and tickets, priced £20, can be ordered by ringing St Helens 753289.

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