AS BRITAIN welcomed home its newest and youngest Olympic hero, nobody was more certain of success for the 17-year-old boxing sensation Amir Khan than Bowness trainer and national adjudicator Dave Reynolds.

Mr Reynolds, who is president of the teenage boxer's local amateur boxing association, waved Amir off to Athens after presenting him in July with all his latest trophies.

"To be honest, I was so convinced Amir would do well that I even wrote him a good luck card which read: This is your year' and it certainly turned out that way," said Mr Reynolds, adding: "I've been watching his progress for years and he's absolutely outstanding. I have complete faith in the lad. I thought he might just have won gold but the joy of it is that he's so young a mere baby and I'm sure he'll do well at Beijing next time.

"His younger brother Haroon is going to be an equally good boxer he won the Four Nations' Trophy at just 13 years old. I also know Mr and Mrs Khan very well, and the entire family couldn't be nicer or more supportive. "

As president of the East Lancs, East Cheshire, Cumbria and Isle of Man Amateur Boxing Association, Mr Reynolds, a former Ambleside boxer, panel judge, referee, trainer and adjudicator for England, has encour-aged Amir's boxing career with Bury ABC and fully expects the talented fighter to go for the World Lightweight Championship next year.

Another former South Lakes boxer, Ian Irwin, was in Greece with the Olympic team as national coach and a director of the Boxing Association.

Despite the glory of Athens, Mr Reynolds has his sights set nearer to home, training tomorrow's young stars, aged from ten upwards, at Ambleside Boxing Club behind the Golden Rule pub each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7pm onwards. For details, ring Dave on 015394-43173 or Eric Fury on 015394-45071.