BOXERS Glenn Banks and Luke Atkin delivered a glittering double knockout blow for York and England, writes Dave Stanford.

Both fighters won gold medals while representing their country in a recent international tournament staged in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Huntington welterweight Banks, 24, also earned another major accolade when he was selected to captain the England team in Denmark.

In his first fight, Banks defeated Hassam Zamzam, fighting in front of his home crowd, in a close contest before taking gold with a more emphatic points win over Sweden's Rasmus Riscuel.

Burnholme Community College student Luke Atkin, 15, fighting at junior welterweight, took gold after defeating home fighter Jamiel Kassem on a unanimous points decision.

Atkin is currently the Yorkshire and Humberside schoolboy champion and like Banks fights out of the St Paul's Amateur Boxing Club in Hull.

Trainer Bill Brown, who has coached the likes of former undefeated European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Henry Wharton and York light-heavyweight prospect Jamie Warters, hailed the duo's achievements.

"The icing on the cake came with Glenn being made captain. It was a fantastic honour," enthused Brown, who believes it is the first time York boxers have won gold on foreign soil.

Both Banks and Atkin will next be in action at Huntington Working Men's Club on April 23. Tickets for that night will be £10 and can be obtained by ringing 01904 430878.

Updated: 11:00 Thursday, April 03, 2003