2020 CANOE WALES AWARDS

Clare Rutter - WINNER

"Clare Rutter has become the #ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales and taken the bull by the horns! She has taken the project from nothing to being oversold on events and one of the most successful projects this year. She shows amazing leadership [and is a] great inspiration to all who want to and may think of becoming a paddler... When on sessions she's so enthusiastic and keen which then leads others to feel the same... On top of volunteering for the Canoe Wales post she has been a community volunteer during Covid. She also plays a very active role in the local community and scouting organisation... Every group she takes out on the water she treats with passion and they come off the water wanting to buy their own kit and equipment. She then gives all the information to get them in to paddle sports for the future."

Michelle Lee - Finalist

Michelle has been nominated "for her commitment, dedication and sheer enthusiasm in her volunteering role with the #ShePaddles Cymru programme... She relaxes, motivates and enthuses the ladies just so effortlessly with her personality and knowledge, and the ladies always finish their sessions with beaming smiles wherever Michelle has been." 

Vicky Wilson - Finalist

"Vicky is the Club Secretary for Dragon Paddlers... She always involves the other youngsters in her fun and enthusiastic approach, whether it be geeing them up to help set up the session, identifying anyone who is not engaged and taking them to one side to give them some one on one support or encouraging the developing paddlers. She is not afraid to get involved in any aspect of running the club and she is one of those people who you can depend on to take on a job and complete it."

Anya Wharton - WINNER

"North Wales Slalom has a high number of Welsh-speaking female paddlers - this has been achieved largely due to Anya’s involvement in the coaching of the young girls at grassroots level on the Llanberis slalom programme... Anya has taken on the role as a junior coach in a very mature way. She has the ability and confidence to plan sessions, open up the storage container, distribute kit appropriately, coach a structured and appropriate session for her group and give supportive feedback. All this is achieved no matter what the weather and time of year... Despite the lockdowns and Covid restrictions, she has continued to volunteer her time to the beginner girls open days, Outdoor Partnership open days, sessions for local Primary and Secondary schools, #ShePaddles open days and is an active member of Slalom Inspires... She reliably volunteers weekly in the beginner’s group in Llanberis and acts as a mentor and inspirational role model to the younger paddlers."

Bethan Littlewood - Finalist

"Beth is a really positive person with a huge focus on making inclusion in [Bridgend Canoe Club] fun and enjoyable.  Although young, Beth has this year taken on the role of Club Chair and has fully embraced and managed club advice to members and comms over lockdown."

Hannah Stephens - Finalist

"Hannah has been active with the Youth Advisory Group, been part of the #ShePaddles campaign, and also volunteers in helping other sprint paddlers from her area and in their development through the sport. These examples are a testament to her commitment and contributions to paddlesport both in her local area, for women and nationally."

Bethan Littlewood - WINNER

"Beth led the GB Senior Ladies to Gold Medal position at last years (2019) European Canoe Polo Championships in Coimbra, Portugal, by scoring the Golden Goal in extra time for GB, beating the German Senior Ladies. This was a huge success for GB Ladies Canoe Polo, and for Beth as the goal scorer of that final penalty shot! Beth has been training so hard for many, many years for this achievement, so it is great she has managed to win a Gold for Great Britain, and herself. Well done Beth!"

Emily Davies - Finalist

"For the past three years Emily has been ranked in the top five premier paddlers in the UK. She is the only paddler in the top ten of the UK rankings to have achieved this independently of the GB support programme... This is an incredible achievement and highlights her dedication to the sport and the hard work she has put in."

Lisette Nixon - Finalist

"Lisette has been a keen paddler for many years... In the last year she had to stop paddling due to a hip issue which deteriorated rapidly and resulted in a hip replacement. Her surgeon advised she was unlikely to paddle again. After about 12 weeks she was back in a kayak and over the last few weeks has regained the ability to roll again!"

Geoff Forster - WINNER

"For the past few years Geoff has given up 2 evenings every week and some Sunday mornings to coach a small group of slalom paddlers in Llandysul.  He is a true font of knowledge across the board and after 9 years of paddling slalom myself he is Still able to teach me something new regularly. Last year he had a knee replacement and even a spell of rehab couldn’t keep him away, he hobbled up and down the track with a stick!  He constantly goes above and beyond, a phone call to see how a training camp has gone or just checking in to make sure we're working hard and haven’t lost any motivation during lockdown. I cannot speak highly enough of Geoff as a coach, his military background commands respect and gets the best out of everyone he coaches."

Andy Jones - Finalist

"Andy endeavours to make every trip fun for everyone, even the most nervous paddlers. His willingness to have a go and get wet (with a big smile on his face) helps to reassure others when trying something new or practising rescues."

Clare Rutter - Finalist

"Clare has got around 150 new females on the water this year and has been a fantastic inspiration to many many ladies."

Clwb Canwio Amlwch - WINNER

"Founded in 2009 Amlwch Canoe Club has grown in stature and membership... As the Club has grown we offer a range of paddling experiences and cater for all ages and abilities... Over the past few years we have made close links with two disabled groups and pre Lockdown  offered canoeing to them both in a local pool and in the warmer weather a local bay... We have grown from 10 or 12 paddlers to just under 30... The Chair (Phil Edwards) has initiated a robust No Bullying and Respect policy [which] applies to every single member irrelevant of age, race, religion etc. Again pre Lockdown we have made strong contact with Llanberis Canoe Canoe Club (Clwb Antur Dyfryn Peris) and have paddled with them on a regular basis... Amlwch CC offer sea kayaking, river kayaking, open boating, Sit On's, SUP's... Our oldest member is 74, our youngest is 9... Last year we were involved with cleaning Amlwch Harbour...  ACC is a member of Canoe Wales, The Outdoor Partnership, InSport, Blind Sport and we have links to other organisations."

Bridgend Canoe Club - Finalist

"Bridgend Canoe Club have worked really hard over recent years both to increase membership numbers (pretty much doubled), and also to actively encourage and support members in progressing their polo skills and abilities - this encouragement has come through us focusing on improved coaching, and also through offering progressively increasing opportunities to enter canoe polo events"

Colwyn Canoe Club - Finalist

"Colwyn Canoe Club is such a well run club that caters for all ages and level of ability... Families and new members are made to feel welcome from their first point of contact through to a well structured pathway in to our sport. They are one of the few clubs that have a 50% ratio of females in the club."

Dave Janes - Finalist

"Dave has focused on developing aspiring guides and developed the Guide modules into a Zoom friendly method of delivery that allowed us to develop and keep up our interest during the Covid 19 lockdown. Since Covid he has continued the weekly Zoom group meets with informative talks as well as developing a friendly chat group with like minded individuals."

Bethan Littlewood - Finalist

"At the outset of lockdown she devised land training routines for not just members of the club but others to follow... She regularly sent messages to club members to encourage them... Alongside this when we were unable to meet in person Bethan arranged online quizzes for the club... As soon as restrictions started to ease Beth worked tirelessly to ensure that as a club we could get back paddling... if it wasn’t for Beth during lockdown I am not sure if the club and our sport in our area would have survived. Thanks Beth for keeping us going!"