KEVIN Maree believes Kenny Anderson’s super middleweight British title success on Saturday will do wonders for his already thriving Gisburn gym.

Maree, from Nelson, became the youngest trainer of a British champion when he guided Anderson to victory over Robin Reid to claim the Lonsdale belt in Sheffield at the weekend.

The 34-year-old, who has been a trainer for eight years, believes Anderson can continue to improve after moving from his base in Edinburgh to train at the Stirk House in 2009.

And Maree knows holding the British title will provide greater opportunities for both his fighter and his gym.

“It was a phenomenally proud moment,” he said of Anderson’s victory. “I’m the youngest trainer of a British champion in the country so I’m really happy.

“Kenny hid away in Lancashire for the last 10 weeks and trained his heart out. Now he’s got the belt and the confidence, and he’s only going to get better and better.

“And this gives a tiny little town like Gisburn, which has a gym in it in the Stirk House Hotel, unbelievable credibility.

“There can only be at any time 15 British champions because there are only 15 weight cat-egories. We have one of them there at the gym, so that is just a phenomenal achievement. Some trainers go their whole career without having a British champion.

“From a selfish point of view it’s a huge boost because lads will look at the trainer and ask, ‘Can he get me to the top?”.

“You have to have something for the lads to say, ‘He’s been there and done it’.

“I could be the greatest trainer anyone’s ever seen but unless you’ve done that final hurdle, I’ll never be able to take a lad to that final step.

“Now I have, at this age, and it’s the first of many.”