Vauxhall also tasted continental success in Denmark as Paul Butler struck gold in the Hancock Box Cup at Skive for the second year running, despite what Phelan describes as 'difficult circumstances'.

Phelan said: 'It was a case of having some children away from home for the first time and there was a little bedevilment in the camp. Buster Exell and Paul performed well but a late night meant that Buster looked shattered in his contest when he should have been fresh. Fortunately, Paul's final was later in the day and he had the chance to get some rest.'

One of the club's major highlights of the past year was the NACYP (National Association of Clubs for Young People) Championship won by 15-year-old Matty Fagan against Harwich's Aaron Deekf in Nottingham in December.

It was a case of third time lucky for the Ellesmere Port Catholic High School pupil, who missed out on the crown two years earlier on a countback and failed the weight at the semi-final stage the next year.

Phelan said: 'That was a big high for ourselves and the town. It's only the third time in the last 30 years that an Ellesmere Port boxer has won a national title, the last being Paul Lloyd who was a senior back in 1990. It's a real feather in the cap for our club to have produced the area's last two national champions. Matty boxed well throughout the tournament and learned from his previous mistakes, sticking well to his diet.'

The NACYP Championship was also a success for Vauxhall's Mike Kelly, who made it to the semi-finals before bowing out to the eventual champion. He also had to overcome team-mate Danny Duffy en route - the first time two Vauxhall boxers have faced each other in competition. Look out for the concluding part of Vauxhall Motors ABC's review of the season next week.