Antrim honoured the memory of Harry Cunningham Snr. on Friday evening, hosting the Harry Cunningham Memorial tournament. It featured an Antrim Select taking on a Cyprus/Croatia select.
The night finished Antrim 12: Cyrus/Croatia 4.
Harry, late of Saints BC Belfast, gave 60 years of his life to boxing before sadly passing away in October of 2020.
Boxing out of St Matthew’s as a youth and contesting at Ulster and national elite level, he coached at Short Strand before becoming Head Coach at Saints, where he quickly became known as ‘Mr. Saints’. He played a pivotal role in the training and development of county, provincial and national champions, including his sons Liam and Harry Jnr. Liam won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Kuala Lumur and his brother came home with World Junior silver in 1998. Harry also travelled with many international teams, representing Ireland as head coach.
He served on the County Antrim Board for 30 years, and was the sitting Vice President at the time of his passing. Harry was also on many of International trips as Irish Team Head coach and was club coach of his two very successful boxing sons Liam and Harry Jnr who both represented Ireland on several occasions.
The Harry Cunningham Memorial Tournament is supported by Belfast City Council and this year, is part of the Belfast European City of Sport suite of events.
Results
All images: Mark Marlow
Boxing Ireland CEO Gary Stewart with Paddy McGrattan and Paddy Barnes Snr. Paddy McGrattan is due to retire and was recognised for his dedication to helping to fund amateur boxing down the years.
Liam Cunningham son of the late Harry Cunningham presents an Antrim jersey to Kambourikas Nicolas for his top class performance during the Harry Cunningham memorial tournament.
Paddy barnes Snr