Housed in a former Victorian bath house in Bethnal Green, the ...
Completely knocked out
44
Housed in a former Victorian bath house in Bethnal Green, the once boys-only Repton Boxing Club is opening up its revered ropes to female fighters for the first time since 1884
Words Sarah Holmes Photography Martin Usborne
kfh.co.uk
45
Completely knocked out
W
hen it comes to making a name for yourself in the East End, local lads know there are two ways of going about it. Either you follow in the footsteps of Sir Bobby Moore and secure your legend in the world of professional football. Or you box your way to fame and glory, in which case the Repton Boxing Club off Brick Lane is the only place to train. Kellie Omer knows all about Repton’s champion-maker reputation. She’s documented the club’s successes for the past 17 years as official photographer. ‘When I met my husband, Lionel, he boxed for the club,’ explains Kellie. ‘So I dropped by to watch him spar. That’s how I first got involved.’ Last summer, the Repton regular shaped club history herself when she championed plans to build a women’s changing facility, busting open the previously boys-only doors of Repton to female boxers. It was a landmark move, given the sport’s historically dim view of female competitors. ‘I’d wind the chairman up, telling him I’d be the first woman in the ring,’ she smirks. ‘He’d just hold his hands to his ears and walk out of the room. But when Repton changed from a boys’ club to a general boxing club three years ago, I properly
got the ball rolling.’ Kellie became a certified boxing coach – Repton’s first – and led the first girls-only session in February. ‘My focus is to get the ladies training in the gym,’ says Kellie. ‘We’re leaving competitive fights to the men, for now. But we can’t put women’s boxing on the back foot anymore.’ Established in 1844 by Repton College in Derbyshire, the club was founded as a sports and social mission for the underprivileged children of East London. However, when funding was withdrawn in 1971, the club relocated to its current E2 postcode and became a boys-only boxing gym. RING THE CHANGES Repton has produced 93 Olympians over the past 40 years, most under the tutelage of renowned coach Tony Burns, who trained alongside Ronnie and Reggie Kray. The club was a Victorian bath house and old fight posters plaster the original off-white tiles. In the main gym, a shrine of plaques and photographs pays testament to the countless Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) champions to pass through the club’s doors. In the centre of it all is the iconic ring, the launch pad for a roll call of professional success stories, including that of world champion Maurice Hope.
Here, reputations aren’t made by the acquisition of money and managers, but rather through the untiring pursuit of boxing excellence. ‘Whether you’re young, old, ex-champ or didn’t make it, the minute you walk through those doors you’re even,’ says club chairman David Robinson. It’s an ethos that has allowed unknowns like Charlie Smith, an exmember from a Bethnal Green travelling family, to stand in equal regard with prize-fighting greats like Audley Harrison. ‘It was the year leading up to Audley’s gold medal win in the 2000 Olympics and he was sparring with a few of the lads in preparation. Tony put Charlie in the ring. Audley thought he could take anyone, but this lad was hard as nails.’ Within a minute, Audley was in trouble. ‘Charlie came in like a beast and knocked his block off. By the end, Audley was crying to get out of the ring.’ Charlie’s plucky triumph is a testament to the club’s motto ‘No guts, no glory’, and the understanding that anybody can be the best. It’s with this in mind that the club agreed to accept Kellie’s million-dollar babes into the fold. ‘Our chairman recognises it’s a positive thing for the club,’ says Kellie. ‘We’re just here to train as hard as anyone else.’ reptonboxingclub.com
‘Repton Boxing Club has produced 93 Olympians over the past 40 years’
Use London as your gym... GET FIT IN THE PARK • The Great Outdoor Gym Company has free gyms in parks all over the Capital. tgogc.com • From Buggy Fit sessions to boot camp classes, Our Parks has a programme of free exercise classes around London. Booking essential – register at ourparks.org.uk • Parkrun organises free 5k runs every week at a host of different London locations. Register once and then just turn up. parkrun.org.uk
Kellie puts on her handwraps before getting into the ring
Kinleigh Folkard and Hayward
kfh.co.uk
44
Housed in a former Victorian bath house in Bethnal Green, the once boys-only Repton Boxing Club is opening up its revered ropes to female fighters for the first time since 1884
Words Sarah Holmes Photography Martin Usborne
kfh.co.uk
45
Completely knocked out
W
hen it comes to making a name for yourself in the East End, local lads know there are two ways of going about it. Either you follow in the footsteps of Sir Bobby Moore and secure your legend in the world of professional football. Or you box your way to fame and glory, in which case the Repton Boxing Club off Brick Lane is the only place to train. Kellie Omer knows all about Repton’s champion-maker reputation. She’s documented the club’s successes for the past 17 years as official photographer. ‘When I met my husband, Lionel, he boxed for the club,’ explains Kellie. ‘So I dropped by to watch him spar. That’s how I first got involved.’ Last summer, the Repton regular shaped club history herself when she championed plans to build a women’s changing facility, busting open the previously boys-only doors of Repton to female boxers. It was a landmark move, given the sport’s historically dim view of female competitors. ‘I’d wind the chairman up, telling him I’d be the first woman in the ring,’ she smirks. ‘He’d just hold his hands to his ears and walk out of the room. But when Repton changed from a boys’ club to a general boxing club three years ago, I properly
got the ball rolling.’ Kellie became a certified boxing coach – Repton’s first – and led the first girls-only session in February. ‘My focus is to get the ladies training in the gym,’ says Kellie. ‘We’re leaving competitive fights to the men, for now. But we can’t put women’s boxing on the back foot anymore.’ Established in 1844 by Repton College in Derbyshire, the club was founded as a sports and social mission for the underprivileged children of East London. However, when funding was withdrawn in 1971, the club relocated to its current E2 postcode and became a boys-only boxing gym. RING THE CHANGES Repton has produced 93 Olympians over the past 40 years, most under the tutelage of renowned coach Tony Burns, who trained alongside Ronnie and Reggie Kray. The club was a Victorian bath house and old fight posters plaster the original off-white tiles. In the main gym, a shrine of plaques and photographs pays testament to the countless Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) champions to pass through the club’s doors. In the centre of it all is the iconic ring, the launch pad for a roll call of professional success stories, including that of world champion Maurice Hope.
Here, reputations aren’t made by the acquisition of money and managers, but rather through the untiring pursuit of boxing excellence. ‘Whether you’re young, old, ex-champ or didn’t make it, the minute you walk through those doors you’re even,’ says club chairman David Robinson. It’s an ethos that has allowed unknowns like Charlie Smith, an exmember from a Bethnal Green travelling family, to stand in equal regard with prize-fighting greats like Audley Harrison. ‘It was the year leading up to Audley’s gold medal win in the 2000 Olympics and he was sparring with a few of the lads in preparation. Tony put Charlie in the ring. Audley thought he could take anyone, but this lad was hard as nails.’ Within a minute, Audley was in trouble. ‘Charlie came in like a beast and knocked his block off. By the end, Audley was crying to get out of the ring.’ Charlie’s plucky triumph is a testament to the club’s motto ‘No guts, no glory’, and the understanding that anybody can be the best. It’s with this in mind that the club agreed to accept Kellie’s million-dollar babes into the fold. ‘Our chairman recognises it’s a positive thing for the club,’ says Kellie. ‘We’re just here to train as hard as anyone else.’ reptonboxingclub.com
‘Repton Boxing Club has produced 93 Olympians over the past 40 years’
Use London as your gym... GET FIT IN THE PARK • The Great Outdoor Gym Company has free gyms in parks all over the Capital. tgogc.com • From Buggy Fit sessions to boot camp classes, Our Parks has a programme of free exercise classes around London. Booking essential – register at ourparks.org.uk • Parkrun organises free 5k runs every week at a host of different London locations. Register once and then just turn up. parkrun.org.uk
Kellie puts on her handwraps before getting into the ring
Kinleigh Folkard and Hayward
kfh.co.uk
