AN IRVINE trained boxer who has gone from strength to strength in recent years has enjoyed one of her proudest days yet.

Brooke Neely, who spends a lot of her time training at Irvine’s Vineburgh Boxing Club, has been selected to take part in the Team Scotland Achieve 2022 programme.

Brooke, 17, recently won her third GB Championship by winning 48kg Gold at the GB Junior & Youth Championships in Barnsley last month.

It will see Brooke, along with one other boxer and promising coach, join up with the 66 strong team selected as part of the programme.

The Scotland Achieve 2022 group have all been highlighted as potential future Commonwealth athletes and coaches who will travel to Birmingham to get a feel for a large Games environment, as well as attending sport sessions and taking part in bespoke workshops.

First run in 2010, when 45 young athletes and coaches travelled to the Deljhi Commonwealth Games, Achieve has since seen a further 90 participants go through the programme. Many have since made the step-up to compete or coach for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.

The scheme, supported by the Team Scotland Youth Trust and sportscotland, aims to propel more future stars into sporting success, whilst helping them develop a host of vital and transferable skills.

The programme is led by Achieve Director Kevin Moran, who participated in Achieve 2010 before representing Team Scotland in Squash at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.

Kevin said:“The Achieve Programme has the potential to be a really significant step in the development of some of Scotland’s up and coming athletes and coaches, showing what it takes to be part of Team Scotland.

“It was a significant stage in my progression as an athlete and I’m sure the participants will get as much out of it as I did.

“We have a really strong mentor group from a diverse range of backgrounds who will pass on their knowledge and experience, and the schedule of activities will be enjoyable and challenging for the participants.”

“We look forward to seeing everyone in Birmingham.”