Nancy Shepherd is pushing for an England spot this year and is now a three-time national champion.

The 16-year-old, from Minster, Sheppey, is a member of Gillingham-based Kent Gloves and returned from the England Boxing National Youth Championships with a gold medal - clinching a split-decision win in her youth cadet under-54kg Final.

Shepherd was the only female to box on all three days of the competition at the North Solihull Sports Centre, winning three bouts to claim her title.

She was up against former national champion Jocelyn Kilkenny (East Middlesbrough) last Friday and won by a unanimous decision.

A Semi-Final win on Saturday came by way of a second-round stoppage to see off Megan Bradley (Queensberry).

Sunday’s Final was against two-time national champion Laylie Heath (Sunderland) and in a very tactical bout Shepherd came out on top, winning on a points decision.

She now boasts wins at minors, schools and national youth competitions and is No.1 in England for her category.

Shepherd is one of many female boxers at Kent Gloves and the gym’s owner and her father David Shepherd said: “We’re all very proud of her.”