TWO of Keighley Boxing Club's brightest prospects have brought in the New Year with champion style.

Leon 'Clogger' Clegg became Yorkshire and Humberside light-welterweight champion following a superb performance at Sheffield and Mark Kilroy began his quest to reach the National Schools Finals for the second year.

Clegg, who was taking part in the Senior ABA Championships beat a particularly formidable opponent. Mal Melver of Dewsbury and Batley ABC brought an impressive reputation to the competition.

But the Keighley boxer was far from over-awed, he has not been beaten in over 12 months, since he lost to England International Gary Williams of Leeds at the same stage last year.

McIver went on to reach last year's quarter-finals of the ABA Championships and has since beaten Williams, making Clegg's victory at the weekend a significant measure of his progress.

The contest was a particularly tough one, but Clogger finally produced the shots which mattered and earned a fourth round stoppage.

He now progresses to the North Eastern Counties finals on January 27 at Stockton.

Meanwhile Kilroy, who reached the finals of the National Schools competition last year, safely negotiated the first round again as he won the Yorkshire Divisional title at Bradford. The 14-year-old Greenhead Grammar School pupil is now through to the Yorkshire and Humberside finals at South Emsall.

"The standard of performance from our club is quite incredible. The lads are turning in some really gritty performances and deserve to go to the top," said club spokesman, Roger Ingham.

l Leon Clegg celebrates victory over Mel Melver at Sheffield.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.