AN amateur boxer paid a visit to a Darlington school to share her sporting experiences with students.

Amanda Coulson spent time with year eight students at Carmel College, in Darlington, in part of her role as a Sky Sports mentoring programme.

Students were excited to hear about her success in the male-dominated world of boxing, as well as taking part in a training session.

Simon Hannaford, the school’s curriculum leader for PE, said: “Amanda worked with a group of gifted and talented students as part of the Sky project.

“She talked to them about what it takes to become an elite performer and then led a practical session in the gym. “She was inspirational and thoroughly motivated the young people to strive for the best not only on the playing fields but also in the classroom.”

Miss Coulson took up boxing after reading an article in her local paper and soon noticed the controversy surrounding female boxers.

She came up against numerous obstacles when starting out in the sport and received much negative feedback.

Many local boxing clubs refused to let her train, citing no female changing facilities or no female coaches.

These barriers only added to Amanda’s determination and, eventually, she joined Hartlepool Catholic Boys Boxing Club, which soon dropped 'Boys' from its name She first represented England in 2004 and has won silver medals in three European Union Championships and struck gold in major international tournaments in Crete and Turkey.