BOXING champion Barry McGuigan was among the speakers at a workshop day attended by basketball students from a local college. Four Oaklands College Basketball Academy girls brushed shoulders with the featherweight ace when they travelled to the Lords Cric

BOXING champion Barry McGuigan was among the speakers at a workshop day attended by basketball students from a local college.

Four Oaklands College Basketball Academy girls brushed shoulders with the featherweight ace when they travelled to the Lords Cricket Ground last month as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

The advanced apprenticeship students, accompanied by their coaches, also heard from Olympic athletes and Iain Wright MP, parliamentary under secretary of state for 14-19 reform and apprenticeships. They started the day with a training session held by an experienced coach who has worked with Gold medal-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington.

Student Lizzy Harrison said: "During the session, we learnt some new stretches and valuable information on how to perform at a high level and prevent injury.

Barry McGuigan gave an inspirational speech and Olympic athletes such as Sarah Stevenson, who was a bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, helped us with goal setting."

Oaklands Basketball Academy for Girls launched at the college in September and has got off to a strong start with wins and good match performances.