CANOE WALES AWARDS 2022

Etienne Chappel

"Phenomenal physical, mental and emotional comeback to elite level in both slalom and extreme slalom. Inspirational on and off the water!"

Lorelei Kennan

"Lorelei started on the North Wales Slalom program at the age of nine and from that day on Lorelei has become totally committed to the sport. With the support of her dad Matt Kennan, Lorelei has attended nearly all midweek training sessions, weekend training camps, and in the race season has travelled the length and breadth of the UK most weekend's to race. Lorelei not only competes in K1 but also in C1 and is now in Division one in both disciplines. Lorelei is also the youngest paddler in the UK to be in Division one in both disciplines at the age of 12."

Robyn Taunt - WINNER

"Robyn is 13 and was promoted into slalom Division 1 in both K1 and C1 in the summer and also competes in C2. She spent a couple of weeks training at Grandtully and her confidence has gone from strength to strength, to the extent she competed in the Premier race at the Graveyard in September, and was one of 20 out of 115 competitors to get a clean run. It was only two years ago she wouldn’t even get on the Tryweryn for a training session, and a year to confidently paddle down Lee Valley. 

She has gone from putting pressure on herself so that when she finished a run, she was always negative about her achievements and very disappointed with herself, to a girl that comes off the water smiling. She is constantly pushing herself and gaining confidence. She listens to what the coaches say, takes it on board, plans her race, and sticks to it. She is the current Welsh J13 and J14 C1 champion and the J15 K1 champion."

Jonathan Davies

"Jonathan has rapidly expanded north wales slalom by bringing in new cohorts of paddlers through entertaining open sessions. His enthusiasm has propelled significant numbers of kids (and quite a few parents) to progress to racing through his ever-supportive presence and knowledge. He has provided in-depth coaching and skills sessions and he has made excellent use of the skills of those around him. For instance, he used a small faculty to teach on the annual kick-off camp, including an Emergency department practitioner to teach sports physiology and setting up a fun race to encourage parents and kids to work together, including portage, get-on, paddle a section of lake and river and recover all the gear. Without his work the club wouldn’t function, and my boys never would have progressed as fast as they have. He’s trained the youngest female in C1 and K1 div 1, and got my son from pottering about to div 2 in a season."

Tavi Murray - WINNER

"Tavi coaches for Seren Dwr at Cardiff International White Water every Tuesday, and generously creates activities that are fun and of interest to the paddlers that attend (whatever their skill level). She notices what the paddlers like, and tailors activities to them (chasing a ball, with my daughter, down CIWW memorably springs to mind). Tavi spends much time that we don’t see applying for grants to ensure the paddling opportunities are accessible to all. From organising a club trip to the Llandysul river festival, making the numbers up in an inter-club C2 div 4 competition, or organising the opportunity for younger paddlers to learn their WWSRT. Tavi is a whirlpool of paddling enthusiasm that brings out the best in the paddlers that she meets. Tavi also lends her time over the border, acting as a guest coach for North Avon Canoe Club on their summer camp and white water weekend. She is a fantastic coach, and the improved performance of the Seren Dwr paddlers this year is a testament to her efforts."

Stuart Sherman - WINNER

"Stu is a fantastic coach & does do much at our club. He puts together the training programme & organises the 10k time trials. He passes on his great knowledge of paddling to all at our club. This year he completed the DW race. He is a great person to be around & an amazing mentor. The club sessions could not run without him. He supports everyone at these club sessions as well as at races that we have attended throughout the year, including the ocean ski European champs at Sardinia & World Champs held at Portugal."

Tavi Murray

"I am so pleased on behalf of the club to nominate Tavi for this award. Having known Alan Baker and  now reading the criteria for the award, I can think of no one more deserving. Tavi has been involved with the club for several years but really came into her own since lockdown, where she saw the decline in members and activity at the club. As chairman she immediately approached me to help and volunteered as secretary where she skilfully encouraged club members to come together and relaunch our committee. Tackling governance, communications, partnerships, grant applications, coach training to name just a few, that were top of her agenda. She has had success in them all and continues to drive and improve the clubs’ interests on every occasion. Tavi nurtures all club members and understands the ability for the sport to enrich a person’s life. Every member is precious to her. We are so lucky to have her in the club."

Seren Dwr Slalom Club - WINNER

"Covid left our club in a difficult place in 2020-21. Our main coach left the club and we also lost a significant number of our members. Once CIWW reopened in June 2021 and we could start club sessions again we had too few coaches to increase our membership and too few members to be an exciting and fun club… we felt we were trapped! But now those times seem far behind us! This year has been really exciting and the club has come a long way."

Llangollen Canoe Club

"Llangollen is a ShePaddles champion club. They have actively promoted events and engagement with female members of the club and encouraged the growth of new female members (I believe the growth in female members had led to nearly 50% female membership now). This initiative has included taster ShePaddles sessions covering rafting, kayak and canoe, and supportive development from these into main club sessions."