Women ready to fight

Thriller in the Chiller charity boxing contestants pair up with their respective fight partners ...
Thriller in the Chiller charity boxing contestants pair up with their respective fight partners (from left) Michelle Percy, Anne Coombes, Alice Cournane, Joanna Wells, Alice Cannan, Jessica Ryan, Claire Jones and Diane Reid. Photo by Olivia Caldwell.
What do a teacher, a jewellery sales assistant, a disc jockey and a probation officer all have in common?

Probably not a lot, but, come June 30, a female from each occupation will step into the ring for Queenstown's annual charity boxing match Thriller in the Chiller.

The field of 60 men and women has been narrowed down to just 22 for the Winter Festival event and eight of those are female.

The women all have one aim, and that's to knock their opponent to the ground.

Alice Cournane (27), of Arrowtown, said the past five weeks of boot-camp training had been a breeze compared to what they were all about to face.

"It's a real boxing focus now; we have done the fitness and are now expected to keep up our own. It's going to be an awesome challenge."

The women have been partnered up in their fighting pairs, so they will know one another pretty well by the time they glove up.

"We will know each other's strengths and weaknesses, which I am not sure is a good or bad thing," Ms Cournane said.

Student teacher Michelle Percy (22) has never done anything like it and said her entry was an accident.

"I'd always said it would be quite a cool thing to do. My sister was going to put her name down so I thought I would do it with her. I did that and she didn't and now here I am."

She was surprised when she got the call from Winter Festival organiser Simon Green, and realised a few social sacrifices would have to be made.

Don't let the occupation fool you; Miss Percy said the boxing ring was the perfect release after a day in the classroom.

 


 

The fighters

 

FEMALE FIGHTERS

Alice Cournane (27) v Johanna Wells (30)

Ann Coombes (23) v Michelle Percy (22)

Jessica Ryan (24) v Alice Cannan (30)

Claire Jones (24) v Diane Reid (28)

 

MACHO MEN

Adam Hindson (29) v Richard Hadlow (24)

Dallas Moffatt (34) v Nathan Turner (29)

Johnny Stevenson (48) v Paddy Klutz (21)

Richard Evan (27) v Lewis Benseman (21)

Darren Malatesta (41) v Steve Walsh (21)

Jason Mills (25) v Jesse Mackey (25)

Cesar Piotto (34) v Graham McLellan (32)


 

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