CARDIGAN boxers have been delighted to receive a £4,500 grant from the West Wales Masons to help cover rising transport costs.

James Ross, Leader of the West Wales Masons, led a delegation to the Cardigan ABC gym off Maesyrhaf this morning where he met up with Ioan and Garan Croft, of Team GB, and club officials.

And Mr Ross – who confessed to never having set foot in a boxing gym before – sportingly donned a pair of gloves for a light sparring session with the talented Crymych twins.

“There’s no point having an excellent facility such as this if you can’t take your boxers to various tournaments around the country,” he told the Tivy-Side afterwards.

“We are always looking for good local causes to support and Cardigan ABC, who teach the art of boxing to boys and girls from all backgrounds, quite simply tick all the boxes.

"This grant will be spread over three years."

Head coach Guy Croft said Cardi boxers were constantly on the road. “And travel is so expensive,” he added.

“I’ve taken kids as far afield as Darlington, Motherwell and the East End of London.

“The idea of this donation is to help get the right boys and girls – ones who we feel will benefit from competing at tournaments – to travel to other areas and gain experience.

“Our gym is currently heaving with youngsters – some nights we get around twenty in here.”

And Guy reported a ‘significant’ rise in the number of girls eager to take up the sport.

Cardigan ABC chairman Mike Lewis said the donation would make a ‘massive difference' to the club due to its location.

“Never mind the army, I've always said you join Cardigan ABC to see the world,” he joked.

“Our boxers have traditionally had to travel far greater distances compared to their rivals from south Wales, for instance.

“It’s a side of the sport the public just don’t see – driving up and down motorways in all weathers and at all hours of the day or night.

“A lot of our kids come from families who cannot afford travel costs, so we are extremely grateful for this generous donation.”