INVERKEITHING boxing starlet Harrison Baxter is targeting another shot at British competition after clinching a Scottish title hat-trick.

The 13-year-old, an S3 pupil at Inverkeithing High School, left his opponents on the canvas at Boxing Scotland's Schools and Junior Championships, held on February 23-24, for a third successive year to claim glory in the 2004 Junior 44kg category.

Having won in the 35.5kg and 42kg weight divisions in each of the last two years, Harrison went into the event at Motherwell's Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility having switched clubs, and on the back of a loss in the Eastern District Championships ahead of the tournament.

He moved to Jonesy's Boxing Club, based in Plean, near Stirling, from Leith Victoria AC just before Christmas and, although he lost to Charlie Dent in the Eastern District final, he bounced back off the ropes to pack a punch at national level.

Dennistoun's Mark Boyle was beaten in the semi-final to set up a title fight with Craigmillar's Lewis Robertson, and it was the West Fifer who came through to claim the gold medal.

Harrison's success last year gave him the chance to compete for Scotland at the GB Schools Championships in August – in which he won a bronze medal – and dad Sean said: "When Harrison lost in the Eastern District, he was absolutely deflated but was back in the gym the following day, plodding away. That's the third year in a row that he's won the Scottish, so he's really chuffed.

"A lot of laddies go there year after year and that's the main one that they want to win. He's settled in to his new club and we're hoping he gets to go to the British. He went last year and we never expected him to win; we wanted him to enjoy the experience of being away with the team. It was a learning experience and he really enjoyed it.

"He's been training with Jonesy's since December, and the Eastern District was his first fight with them, and his first fight in 5-6 months since the British. He got beat, which was unfortunately, but the Scottish was the main one. I didn't think he was ready but he did really well.

"At Leith Victoria, he wasn't getting any sparring, or he was sparring with the wrong people who were aged 18. It was unfortunate but I think was for the best for Harrison.

"After the Scottish last year, he had one fight on a home show at Leith Victoria, but it turned into a demonstration fight. It was hard (to leave) because they're a good club, with a good reputation, but when I first spoke with his coach (at Jonesy's) he said Harrison shouldn't have a quiet spell; he should be fighting all the time."

He added: "The two bouts there suited him because his opponents wanted to box. Harrison is the type of fighter who would prefer to fight six rounds or, if it came to it, 12 rounds. He was picking his shots and it was nice to watch.

"He doesn't want a big deal, but I said to him that he's worked hard and should be proud."