‑ BOXING LEGEND AND ACADEMY AMBASSADOR BARRY MCGUIGAN TO MENTOR PATRICK MCCANN ‑
19th January 2012. The Jaguar Academy of Sport is delighted to announce that Special Recognition Award Winner Patrick McCann will receive one‑to‑one mentoring from boxing legend and Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador Barry McGuigan.
At the 2011 Jaguar Academy of Sport Annual Awards, Patrick McCann was provided with a Special Recognition Award. In winning this award Patrick will receive a year's one‑to‑one mentoring from boxing legend Barry McGuigan. This one‑to‑one help and support from Barry will be invaluable for a young athlete and something that will allow Patrick to develop further and achieve his sporting goals.
Patrick, a 15 year‑old boxer from Market Harborough, started boxing at the age of 10. He is a very dedicated athlete who trains six times a week in order to fulfill his aspirations and ambitions to make it and stay at the top in one of the most physically demanding of sports.
Patrick has been a model Rising Star this year and has taken full advantage of the Mentoring and Education Programme by attending all the workshops. The Jaguar Academy of Sport has also organised for Patrick to attend Loughborough University to receive a four‑week strength and conditioning programme in order to give him the best possible chance to make his dream of competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio come true.
Patrick has had various achievements including winner of the 2011 National Schoolboy Championships (66kg). He also captained England and was gold medalist at the 2011 Great Britain Junior Championships (66kg), and was later awarded the 2011 Schools Boxer of the Year Award by Amateur Boxing Association of England.
Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador Barry McGuigan is a retired boxer who started his career at Wattlebridge Amateur Boxing Club, County Fermanagh and later moved to the Smithborough Amateur Boxing Club, County Monaghan. Under the guidance of trainer Danny McEntee he rapidly established himself as an exceptional boxer. He won the All Ireland Amateur Championship in 1977 and started his professional career in 1981, winning the British and European Titles in 1983, and the World Title in 1985 by beating the legendary Eusebio Pedroza. He retired in 1989. McGuigan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005, one of only a handful of modern day boxers to receive this honour. Since retiring Barry is now committed to helping young people through his Barry McGuigan Boxing Academies (BMBA).
This sort of achievement is key to inspiring the next generation of British sporting talent and Barry's history in boxing makes him the perfect mentor for Patrick.
Patrick McCann, Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star, commented: "I am delighted my mentor is Barry McGuigan, he is a legend in my sport and to be given the opportunity to have one‑to‑one mentoring from him is just fantastic. Barry presented me with my Special Recognition Award at the Annual Awards so it's great that he will be supporting me in my dream to compete at Rio 2016."
Barry McGuigan, Jaguar Academy of Sport Mentor, commented: "Patrick is a very talented young boxer and I am delighted to be able to help him on his journey to sporting success. He is a dedicated young man and I am certain he will make the most of this opportunity."
The Jaguar Academy of Sport aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. This is fulfilled through a Bursary Fund and a unique Mentoring and Education Programme delivered through a series of workshops and talent days. Mentoring is key to the Academy and provides all the Rising Stars with the non‑financial support they need in order to be successful and this support, means our Rising Stars are able to work with Britain's sporting greats and ultimately their heroes who they aspire to be.
(ENDS)
Claire Boakes
Press Officer
UK Sport & Lifestyle Jaguar
T: 01926
649447
M: 07557
846883
E:cboakes@jaguar.com
Carla McAlpine
JaguarAcademyof Sport
T: 020 72879610
M: 07718 897803
E: carla@jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Website: www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk
How to become a rising star
To be eligible for the Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Fund, the young athlete, both able‑bodied and those with a disability, should be nominated to SportsAidfor financial support by their sports own national governing body (NGB). This ensures the Jaguar Academy of Sport helps to support the right athletes, at the right time, in the right way.
Who are the Patrons, Ambassadors and Members
Patrons: including David Beckham OBE, Sir Ian Botham OBE, Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Gareth Edwards CBE, Denise Lewis OBE and Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, MBE, our list reads like a 'who's who' of British sporting Legends. Now they are working together, united in one goal; to nurture the next generation of British sporting greats.
Ambassadors: a selection of Olympic gold medal winning athletes, European Champions League winning footballers, rugby legends and golfing greats including; Colin Jackson CBE, Jamie Baulch, Jessica Ennis MBE, Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Wilkinson OBE and Lee Westwood.
Members: include A.P. McCoy OBE, Andrew Flintoff MBE, Gareth Southgate, Olly Barclay and Mo Farah to name but a few are amongst the leading sports personalities who are dedicated to helping young people emulate their success through the Academy.