A Driffield business is supporting a Bridlington boxing prodigy as he prepares to represent England in the forthcoming Under 19 European Boxing Championships in the Czech Republic.
Middleton on the Wolds based Soanes Poultry is providing chicken to fuel the training schedule of five times national champion Oliver Male ahead of the competition later this month.
18 year old Male, who made his England debut aged 17, winning gold at his first outing for the team at the Three Nations Tournament,is grateful to Soanes for their support, which includes monthly deliveries of chicken and help towards costs: “I’m truly delighted to represent Soanes Poultry as an athlete ambassador. The package of support you’ve outlined is extremely generous, and I greatly appreciate the commitment you are making to me. Having the backing of a respected local family business like yours gives me both pride and motivation to keep pushing forward in my career. I’m really excited for the journey ahead together.”
Soanes Poultry’s brand ambassador, Robert Laird, proposed the sponsorship support package. He said: “We were very impressed with Oliver’s professionalism and training ethic, which have contributed to his stellar success to date. There’s a great fit between Oliver’s values and those of Soanes Poultry, and we are very excited to work with him going forward and to see his continued development both inside and outside the boxing ring.”
Male, sparring partner to British, Commonwealth, and European champ Callum Simpson, boxes out of Bridlington Amateur Boxing Club, where he is coached by Damien Grant and David Widnall. He credits the pair with guiding him on and off the mat, helping him to develop his skills, strategy, and mindset and being key in getting him to this stage of his career.
He concludes: “It’s a huge honour to be chosen to represent my country at this level. In preparation for the European Championships, I’ve fully committed myself to training. I’ve stepped away from work so I can dedicate my life to boxing. My schedule involves training up to three times a day for four days, followed by a rest day to recover. On top of that, I attend England preparation camps every weekend, which are intense but vital for sharpening my skills and mindset. It’s a demanding routine, but I know it’s what’s needed to give my best performance at the Euros.”
Soanes Poultry is a family-owned business that has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. It employs over 180 people and sells its chicken to butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and to wholesalers and catering butchers nationwide.