TORFAEN Warriors ABC had their best day ever when four members picked up a total of three gold medals and one silver from two prestigious competitions.

William Bennett captained a 17-strong Wales schools team, which also featured clubmate Danny Thomas, at the British Three Nations Championships in Yorkshire.

Wales, made up of boys and girls, returned home from Barnsley Metrodome with three winners – and two of those were Warriors boxers Bennett and Thomas.

In the semi-finals, Thomas went up against a tough cookie in English champion Ellis Panter, who had 17 victories from 18 bouts.

Thomas used his long reach to evade Panter and won on a split decision to book his place in the 50kg final. Thomas wanted to impress in the gold medal contest with England’s Aman Kumar, and did so from the first bell, standing toe-to-toe with his opponent and coming off the better in their exchanges.

The Torfaen youngster was too good for Kumar and another split decision success saw him crowned champion.

As for Bennett, he faced the tall Jexiah Viera in the last four and was wary of his rival, but he needn’t have worried.

Wales skipper Bennett won via split decision to set-up a meeting with Scottish champion Taylor Gray for the 52kg title.

Gray went into the fight with 18 wins from 21 bouts and received a rapturous ovation as he entered the ring.

However, Bennett was up for the challenge and it was time to show how good he really is.

Gray came at Bennett but the Warriors ace outfoxed the Scot, switching from a southpaw stance and back to orthodox to land plenty of clean shots.

It seemed as though Bennett was way out in front on the scorecards at the end of three rounds, but it turned out to be another split decision success – that’s 18 wins from 22 now for him.

Further south and much closer to home, two Torfaen Warriors fighters travelled to the Bristol Box Cup, with both getting byes to their finals.

Arthur Funnell went into his final against Bilal Amed (Laisterdyke Boxing Club) just a few weeks after winning bronze in the Lonsdale Cup.

Funnell had just received news of his clubmates’ golds in Barnsley when he took on his English opponent.

He came out strongly with a three-punch combination and a jab which was scoring well.

A split decision triumph after three rounds saw Funnell make it a hat-trick of golds for the Warriors in Yorkshire and Bristol.

Alfie Leighton was then facing Murphy Bevan (Lions Boxing Club) with hopes of making it four golds for the Warriors.

Leighton, who had also won Lonsdale Cup bronze, was taller than his opponent and caused problems with his long jab.

Warriors head coach Simon Weaver and others from the Torfaen club thought Leighton had done enough for gold, but the judges went with Bevan.

With Callum Roberts’ silver at the Lonsdale Cup, this has been one of the best seasons for Torfaen Warriors ABC – and everyone at the club is looking forward to the next season starting in September.

“All boxers train and work hard as a team and we are very proud of their achievements,” said Weaver.