Woolnough takes positives from loss

AFTER missing out on his dream of winning a Western Counties title at the final hurdle, James Woolnough has targeted Commonwealth Games qualification next year.

Woolnough was one of two Guernsey boxers in national ABA action last weekend, the other being junior Casey de la Mare, in the regional section of the draw in Bristol.

Just two days short of his 23rd birthday, Woolnough, pictured, needed to box twice on Sunday in quick succession to achieve that ambition and started off well, beating Dan Sarkozi in the Western semi-final.

But he then fell short against Jack Bellingham in the final a couple of hours later, also with a unanimous points decision, which he felt could have gone either way.

'I feel like I actually boxed better in the final than I did in the semi, which shows that my fitness was not a problem at all,' said Woolnough.