A TWELVE-year-old Tavistock College student showed off her skills to come second in the recent England Boxing Schoolgirl National championship — a match her coach said she would have won had she been fighting fit.

Chantel Whiting has only been competitively boxing for around 12 months, but was last weekend crowned runner up in the national boxing competition in Sheffield but still could have the chance to go forward into the Tri-Nationals.

Chantel had unfortunately been fighting the flu a few days before her schoolgirl national competition and although the rounds were close in points, she unfortunately lost out on the top spot.

Her coach Steve Clarke, from the Mayflower Amateur Boxing Club in Plymouth, said he was very proud of her achievements: 'Chantel was a bit disappointed on the day. She had the flu a few days before but seemed to pick up a bit and she was determined to go through with it. She should have won it really, because she has beaten the same girl before but she was still drained from the illness.

'She's a very talented girl and we are very proud of her. She's got very good prospects — she's very fit and strong minded.'

From the schoolgirls' championship, the winners automatically go through to the Tri-National competitions but Steve said sometimes the runner up is called up as well, so Chantel may still have the chance to box for England. As the Times went to press, they were still waiting to hear.

'She is the first junior female boxer we have had boxing for us and in her first year to achieve the national finals is very good,' he said. 'Every time she has boxed she has done very well. Now we are just praying she does get selected for England in the Tri-Nationals.'

Boxing runs in the family as Chantel's younger brother Aiden, 11, also boxes with the club.

Steve said: 'Aiden has boxed in four contests and only lost one. He's doing very well and we're looking at him to do the schoolboys' national championship next year. Both Whitings are very dedicated — they eat, sleep and think boxing. They are a very good little family.'