Berinsfield ABC’s Niamh McGuckin had the thrill of meeting Olympic super heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at a special ceremony to mark her achievement of winning a national title.

McGuckin retained her Amateur Boxing Association of England’s (ABAE’s) Schools Championship crown with victory over Burslem’s Abby Bates in the class 2 under 50kg section in December.

And she joined more than 50 of England’s most talented 13-16 year old boxers for a behind-the-scenes look at GB Boxing’s training facility at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield.

She took part in a question-and-answer session with Joshua, world championship bronze medallist and London Olympian Natasha Jonas and Jack Bateson, who was recently promoted to GB Boxing’s podium squad and is a three-time ABAE Schools champion.

The winners and their families watched the GB squad in training, met coaches and sport science staff from the Olympic programme.

McGuckin and the other youngsters were also presented with a souvenir pair of ‘Golden Gloves’ to mark their achievement in winning the ABAE’s Schools Championships.

She said: “It was an amazing experience to see the Olympic boxing gym, meet the Great Britain boxers and learn about their training programme. “The facilities are fantastic and the whole experience has really inspired me to train even harder and do everything I can to improve and see if I can make it into the squad one day.”

Joshua added: “It is great to have the opportunity to meet with the next generation of young boxers and be able to provide them with help and advice. “ I hope that one day, some of the young boys and girls that I met will go on to be part of the GB boxing squad and win a medal at the Olympic Games.”