A BOXING club from County Durham has just returned from a a successful trip to South Africa.

Fishburn-based South Durham ABC made the near 10,000 mile journey last month for an amateur boxing show - with some members winning their fights.

A squad of five headed to Johannesburg with head coach Jeff Saunders Snr, of Sedgefield, and amateur coaches Nigel and James Archer, who also fought.

Jeff Snr, who is father to professional boxers Bradley and Jeff Jnr, said: “If the lads we took were nervous it never showed and they supported each other throughout.

"It was a great experience for them and they were taken everywhere, seen things they’ve never seen before including a diamond mine.

"Tom Heilbron was winning his fight until he got stopped in the last ten seconds; Dominic Ross left a little bit behind and still put up a brilliant performance in what was two unfortunate losses.

"Clyde Best and James Archer both claimed stoppage wins which was fantastic as well so, all in all, it was a good trip over and we all learnt a lot from it.”

The club, run by Jeff Snr alongside Tracey Saunders, last visited South Africa in 2008 when the coach took a full 12-man contingent due to family friends living there.