Boxing: Lawyer is first woman official

LESS THAN 24 hours after the MCC opened its doors to women members, the British Boxing Board of Control has appointed their first female official in its 69-year history.

Judith Rollestone, a commercial solicitor from London, has joined the board's Panel of Administrative Stewards, the decision-making body of domestic boxing.

Last year the Board appointed Northern Ireland's Olympic gold-medal winning pentathlete, Mary Peters, as an honorary steward, but she has no part in the decision processes of the board.

The Board's secretary, John Morris, said: "This is an important appointment because Judith brings legal expertise along with considerable knowledge of boxing. Obviously she can assist us as we develop the female side of the sport but her involvement will go far beyond that." Rollestone specialises in oil and gas law and has been a lifelong follower of boxing through family interest.

She chairs the Women's Commission of the Amateur Boxing Association of England, and is secretary of the Women's Commission of the European ABA. Rollestone has been qualified as an amateur judge for the past three years and last season was promoted to the major panel. More recently, she qualified as a referee.

She said: "I look forward to becoming more fully involved in the sport and not simply with women's boxing."