BLACKBIRD Leys ABC were celebrating after both Dane Simmonds and Keenan Dallimore reached the national semi-finals of the Development Championships on split decisions.

Simmonds, fighting in the 69kg quarter-final at Camberley, overcame Harley Colwell-Levene (Fishergate ABC), who had only one previous defeat on his record He gained the verdict thanks to his sharper counter-punching.

Dallimore outboxed the previously unbeaten Scott McAvoy (Ferndown ABC) in an under 75kg bout, continuously catching his opponent with left hooks to nick the decision.

Both Blackbird Leys boxers move onto the semi-finals in Worcester tomorrow.