WALCOT boxer Patrick McDonagh dons the white vest of England this weekend when he competes in the European Youth Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, writes Dave Veysey.

The 17-year-old light-welterweight is among a select team of eight boxers representing England in one of the toughest tournaments in the amateur boxing world calendar.

All the European countries who compete under the AIBA rules will be represented, for a nine-day tournament which showcases the very best under 19 boxing talent in Europe.

McDonagh said: “I’ve trained hard and I am ready for the championships. It’s going to be tough - I will probably have to box five or six times to win the gold medal. But I am confident in my own ability, and I think I can do well if I perform at my best.”

Walcot chief coach Harry Scott added: “Patrick is a good boxer, and it’s great that he has been selected for England for such a prestigious event.

“We have trained him here at Walcot since he was six years old, and he has a tremendous record for us, boxing 40 times, and winning 37.

“He has already won two national schoolboy titles, two Three-Nations schoolboy titles, the Ambition Championship and the English and British Youth titles in his six-year career.

“He continues to train hard and improve, but this will be a tough title to win, and everyone at Walcot wishes him the very best of luck.”

Meanwhile, Horseshoe’s James Townsend lost in the All England quarter-finals at Kembrey Park against Londoner Simon Hepburn.

Townsend boxed well taking the fight to Hepburn, who was a tall upright fighter, and had some joy with close-range combinations and they could not be seperated after the opening round.

Townsend saw the cut over his left eye from the Western Counties finals the week reopen and the flow of blood had to be stemmed before coming out for the second.

When the pair came out for the next round, Hepburn made good use of the upper cut as Townsend looked to work in close.

As staying away and keeping long was playing into Hepburns hands and this round was also to close to call.

In the last round there was success for both boxers at times and both boxers had given their all.