The Dragons Gym Show- (Carlisile, England) February 25th, 2001

This report was written and supplied by Christian Percival

The Hilltop Hotel was the venue for the Dragon's first show to be held in Carlisle for 16 months. Featuring on this show was a team of 4 Irish fighters and topping the bill for the night was a British Title fight under full Thai rules (knees and elbows allowed to the head!) between Alan Reid (Dragon's Gym Annan) and Craig Shaw (Darlington).


First fight of the night was between James Gibson (Dragons) and Damien Hamilton (Darlington). These two fighters were only 10 and 11 years old but both fought with the aggression and passion of grown men. Both fighters landed with some good techniques but the slightly bigger and more experienced Hamilton took the final decision.


The next fight on the card was a 62 kg senior contest between Neil Carlyle ( Dragons) and the first Irish fighter of the night Brian Gallagher. Both fighters started off aggressively, Gallagher throwing some strong kicks with Carlyle countering with punches. Both fighters giving 100% right till the end of this hard fought contest with the decision going to Carlyle who seemed to work just that little bit harder.


The only female contest of the evening was between Elaine Doran ( Dragons) and Marie Leonard (Sandy Holt). Leonard who was 2 kg heavier than Doran, weighing in at 74 kg looked the more experienced in the grapple, which is how most of this match was fought. Never the less it was an excellent from both fighters with Leonard taking the final decision.


Brian Harper was next up for the dragons taking on Darling ton fighter Anthony Miller, both at 67 kg. Harper, returning to the ring after a 17 month break, was keen to get back to business by taking the fight to Miller in the first round, landing with some strong mid section kicks. Miller, starting to counter Harper well and taking control of the fight using some good low kicks, putting Harper on the canvas a couple of times, and taking control in the grapple. The decision went to Miller.


The next bout was between John Brewer 72 kg ( Dragons) and Stuart Riley 72 kg ( Lon don). An evenly matched fight with both fighters coming forward and both using good punch / kick combinations. The fight seemed to be even when after about thirty seconds into the third round Riley injured his foot when he threw a low kick at Brewer and could not continue.


The second of the Irish fighters entered the ring next to take on John Hayles (Sandy Holt). This fight was under amateur rules ( pads and body armour with knees and elbows to the head allowed). I was unable to watch this fight and unfortunately do not have it on video but I believe that the fight was stopped due to heavy bleeding from the nose of Drennin.


After the interval it was time for the third of the international fights featuring Terry Bruton 70 kg ( Dragons ) Vs Peter O' Carrol 69 kg. Bruton known for his aggressive style of fighting was competing over 5 rounds for the first time.
Bruton, using his height and reach advantage, landed with good punch / kick combinations, trying to keep away from the powerful punching ability of the Irishman. O' Carrol, taking some strong attacks from Bruton, came back well but seemed to be always that little bit out of reach. Both fighters giving their best with the decision going to Bruton.


The next contest was Mike Warbeck 64 kg ( Dragons) Vs Seamus Cogan 64 kg (Ireland) fighting 5 x 2 min. rounds.
Warbeck started well landing some good mid section kicks on Cogan but as the fight progressed Cogan was proving to be to strong for Warbeck especially in the grapple. A unanimous decision to Cogan.


The crowd went wild as Alex Dally 73 kg (Dragons) entered the ring to take on Kirk Forrester 74 kg ( Darlington). Forrester who recently won a European Title in Belgium and has had a string of victories lately, started the fight looking for the early finish, throwing some really strong leg kicks. Dally came back slowing Kirk down with punches and especially some body kicks which were taking effect. Although the powerful Darlington fighter always looked dangerous Dally finished the fight looking the stronger of the two and landed a cracking right punch which shook Forrester but the final Bell went. The decision went to Dally. This was an all action fight which was awarded fight of the night.


The last fight of the night was the main event of the evening be tween Alan Reid 62.5 kg (Dragons) and Craig Shaw 62.5 kg (Darlington) This was a 5 x 3 min contest under full Thai rules (knees and elbows to the head) for the UKMF British Title. This fight started slowly, building up into toe to toe battle of strength and determination. Both fighters showing great technique and both landing with some strong combinations. As they settled in to the fight elbows started to fly both jumping in and both landing some good elbows, much to the pleasure of the crowd. Shaw caught Reid with some strong punches to the head and Reid did well to take them in his stride keeping Shaw at bay with his push kicks. Into the fourth round Shaw landed with a jumping elbow splitting Reid on the top of the head, unfazed Reid continued to push Shaw back against the ropes landing with punches of his own and following nicely with kicks. These two fighters gave their all right to the final bell!

What followed can only be described as devastating and cruel. As both fighters awaited the final decision the announcer declared Reid the winner and new British Champion. As the crowd went wild celebrating Reid's victory the announcer took the microphone to admit he had made a mistake and that Shaw was the winner on the judges score cards. It was a heart breaking anti-climax for the dragon's gym fighter who had fought brilliantly in this gruelling contest!