Amy Broadhurst with her gold medal in Birmingham

CHEERS rang out across north London and beyond on Sunday when Amy Broadhurst sealed a historic victory at the Commonwealth Games.

The Islington Boxing Club (IBC) member sailed to a unanimous 5-0 points win over England’s Gemma Richardson in the lightweight final to become the first female boxer to win a gold medal at the Games for Northern Ireland.

And in the Birmingham crowd cheering her on every step of the way was father-and-son duo Lenny and Reggie Hagland, who help run the ever-busy IBC in Hazellville Road, Upper Holloway.

Broadhurst spent more than six years representing the club, landing countless titles along the way including the Haringey Box Cup and the Golden Girl Box Cup, and was crowned English Elite champion.

Revealing “the great pride” that everyone has for “one of their own”, IBC committee member and senior coach Lenny said: “Amy is still a registered member of IBC, although we rarely get to see her now that she represents Ireland and trains at the Irish Institute for Sport in Dublin.

“At the Commonwealth Games, Amy boxed three times in four days and to be fair was a comfortable winner in each bout she had against boxers from Zambia, Nigeria and England without actually boxing to her full capabilities.

“This shows the standard that Amy is at now and she looked very powerful and in control from the word go in each contest.”

Broadhurst is no stranger to big wins having captured light-welterweight gold at the World Championships in Istanbul back in May.

Taking to social media to celebrate her latest triumph, the 25-year-old posted: “World champion and Commonwealth Games champion in the space of three months is something I am very proud of.

“Making history being the first female to win a gold medal in boxing for Northern Ireland at these Games is amazing and something I will carry through my career.

“It’s been a long year, very tiring even though it’s been amazing. Thank you to everybody who has supported me.”

After an unforgettable 2022, a move into the professional ranks seems inevitable. But with the 2024 Olympics in Paris just around the corner Broadhurst has a big decision to make.

“Obviously at the moment I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. “I don’t really want to think about it just yet, but I know that when I do make the decision it’s going to be the best one for me.

“I will obviously turn pro down the line but I could stay amateur for another six years.”