TEENAGER Steve Turner overcame a family tragedy to reach the finals of the National Youth Championships.

The Lymington-based youngster was close to pulling out of the Bristol semi-finals after his grandfather died the week before, with the funeral held on the Friday before the bout.

However Turner, who boxes for the Lawrence club, went ahead and competed, and the 15-year-old outpointed Darren Loveday from the Newham club in London over three rounds.

The youngster now travels to Liverpool on December 4 with his dad, Steve senior, who is also one of the Lawrence club's coaches, and the rest of the club's coaching staff.

The final is at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool and his opponent will be W Bilan from Denbeath in Scotland.