From Brian McKeown. Trainer Cavan Boxing Club.
While this years World Female championships in China, the only qualifying tournament for female boxers, saw Katie Taylor not only take her 4th World title, qualify for London but also establish herself as the leading female boxer and probably the best the World has ever seen. However another Irish boxer to shine in Qinaughadao City was Cavan’s Ceire Smith, a 19 year old from the Cavan Boxing Club, who reached the last 16 in the World and firmly establish her as Ireland’s next big boxing star.
Ceire competed very well throughout, defeating opponents from Tzakistan and Jamiaca before going down to the former World and European Champion who went on to take the bronze medal and qualify for the Olympics. The performances of Ceire really alerted Ireland to the fact that there is a strong female boxing organisation here and her quiet, unassuming and modest personality made her one of the most popular competitors in the competition.
This young lady, from the village of Ballyhaise, only took up boxing about four years ago and within 2 years was Ulster and Irish Elite Senior champion and took Provincial and National titles at U,18, U.21 and Intermediate level within 2 years.
It is hard to believe that in 2010 she represented Ireland at the World championships in Barbados at just 17 years of age and after only two Senior bouts, the first of which seen her defeat the Former European bronze medallist, she represented Ireland at the World Championships. It was here, in 2010 that Pat The Baker came on Board to help sponsor Ceire!s competition and training expenes and thankfully have remained on her side since.
This season has seen Ceire go into action no less than thirteen times, coming away the winner no less than eleven times. An even more significant fact is that no less than eleven of the contests took place abroad in China, Canada, U.S.A. Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Austria. In that time she retained her Elite Senior crown, won gold medals at the Angram Centrum Multi Nations in Gotenberg and the Golden Girl International Tournament where she also picked up the best boxer award as well as representing Ireland at both the European and World championship. Defineately a well travelled young lady who just six days after returning from China found herself fighting and winning in Sarnia in Canada.
While Ceire took a year out from College to concentrate on her Olympic dream she had very little income as a non funded athlete and the sponsorship from Pat The Baker was invaluable for day to day living, very much needed and appreciated and both Ceire and Cavan Boxing club are proud to be associated with this local firm with such a high reputation.
