Meet our new Canoe Wales Stand up Paddleboard Sub Committee

Ruth Hall - SUP Sub Committee Chair 

Ruth has held leadership positions in sport for over 4 years, running both Sport England's National Outdoor Centre, and Archery GB, the National Governing Body for archery, including the Olympic and Paralympic programs. Ruth has over 15 years' executive leadership experience and a strong record of commercial success, delivering in large non-profit, membership organisations and private, equity backed businesses. 

Her experience extends beyond a background in sport governance and administration, building relationships within complex stakeholder groups, both nationally and internationally, and across multiple sectors including scientific publishing, technology, and education. Ruth has held Board positions with the Outdoor Industries Association, and Canoe Wales, and helped organisations to modernise, and develop their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Dave Kohn Hollins - SUP Sub Committee Vice Chair

Dave is a paddlesports coach living and working in North Wales. He runs River Flair Coaching and Guiding and also works as a freelance coach for lots of other companies and organisations, including Bangor University and the University of Central Lancashire.

As well as recently joining the Canoe Wales board, Dave is also a National Trainer for Canoe Wales, training providers of various British Canoeing Awarding Body leadership, coaching and safety awards.

Dave's paddlesport background is in white water kayaking, but in recent years he has become a keen open canoe and SUP paddler, with lots of SUP experience on the sea, on lakes and down rivers, including some white water SUP’ing adventures.

Katy Hogarth - SUP Sub Committee Member

Katy is a full-time industry professional, coaching and delivering across several disciplines. She started paddleboarding after her third round of knee surgery and enjoys the dynamic challenges SUP brings in whitewater and the surf! 

She has run Paddleboarding litterpicks for the last 10 years and is passionate about using watersports to connect people with their environments. That can take the form of practical environmental activism such as removing invasive species, conducting citizen science, or facilitating opportunities for groups who face barriers to sport and are often unable to access blue spaces. 

Richard Hughes - SUP Sub Committee Member

Richard lives in Liverpool but is from Anglesey and has been working the outdoors for nearly 20 years. He is a coach educator for British Canoeing, which he has done for nearly a decade. He predominately spends his time sea kayaking or SUP’ing. 

Richard is also a keen mountaineer, climber and caver, and holds awards including the Summer and Winter Mountain Leader, alongside numerous leadership and coaching awards in sea kayaking, SUP, canoe and white water kayaking. He is a First Aid trainer with a number of schemes including Rescue and Emergency Care and is also a brand ambassador for O’Shea SUPs, Celtic Paddles and Rockpool Kayaks. 

Richard is currently training as a science teacher, but still spending most of his spare time getting out in the hills, on his board or in his kayak. He holds positions on numerous committees and working groups, including the British Canoeing First Aid Working Party and the Canoe Wales Safety, Coaching and Leadership Sub-Committee. He is also a Search Technician and Advanced Trauma Medic with Cheshire Search and Rescue Team, involved with searching missing persons alongside the police, and also responsible for training team members in First Aid, Navigation and Rope Handling / Safety on Steep Ground. 

Kevin Jackson - SUP Sub Committee Member

Kevin has spent a lifetime working in Outdoor Education, the bulk of which was spent leading and managing centres and as a Local Authority Outdoor Education Adviser. Alongside this has been a personal commitment to seeking adventure and having great fun whether it be rock climbing; mountaineering, on skis or paddling white water, open water and the sea. 

As Kevin approached retirement, he was looking for a new challenge to which he could apply existing knowledge, skills and experience. SUP seemed a good fit and, having tested out SUP paddling journeys previously undertaken in other craft on rivers, lakes and sea, he quickly realised the potential this sport held across a range of disciplines for a very wide age range and all ability levels. In the last 2 years Kevin focussed on racing, achieving podium success in the over 60's age group in the GBSUP distance and tech series, as well as exploring longer distance options. He is a firm believer in ' don't let the old 'un out of the box'.

Kevins reason for joining the committee is to use his experience and knowledge to help SUP mature as a sport that is proactive in developing paddler competence, awareness and ability to make more informed decisions on paddling ventures. 

Chloe Morgan - SUP Sub Committee Member

Chloe is based in Port Talbot. While growing up, Chloe’s love for the water led her to explore various water sports, including kayaking, bodyboarding and surfing. Stand Up Paddleboarding, however, captured her heart, and she has been immersed in it since 2020. During this time, she has had the privilege of exploring some of Wales' most spectacular locations, documenting her journey through social media platforms.

Chloe’s day to day work is in the environmental sector, ensuring any works on Wales’ rivers do not exacerbate flood risk along with participating in a flood duty rota. Her role has provided a profound understanding of the intricate river catchments across Wales. Through this experience, has gained a deep appreciation for the power and unpredictability of water.

Chloe brings an excitement about the potential to contribute to the growth and development of Stand Up Paddleboarding in Wales.

Emily King - SUP Sub Committee Member

Emily is a highly accomplished and recognized figure in the paddling community. With a background coming from surfing, Emily has consistently been one of the top SUP athletes, regularly winning iconic elite races and UK National Race Series. Her multidisciplinary approach to paddling, competing in various environments from oceans to white-water rapids, reflects her comprehensive understanding and skill. 

Based in the Gower near Swansea, Emily is not only focused on competitive paddling but also on adventure paddling, undertaking multi-day paddles around the Welsh coast and annual circumnavigations of the Isle of Wight. Her dedication to mental wellness and mindfulness, particularly given her personal journey overcoming PTSD, is integral to her coaching philosophy. 

In addition to her paddling pursuits, Emily maintains strong links with water safety stakeholders such as the RNLI and has consulted and delivered events for the Outdoor Partnership in Wales. Her involvement in the community with her role as National Patron of Aquapaddle UK and also running Swansea Aquapaddle, underlines her commitment to supporting grass roots paddling activity. 

Emily King's dedication to paddling, combined with her extensive coaching experience and commitment to wellness, make her a distinguished and valuable member of the paddling community, poised to inspire and guide a new generation of paddlers through her work with Emily King Coaching. 

Sarah Betterton - SUP Sub Committee Member

Sarah started her paddle boarding journey in South Devon by exploring the beautiful coastline, SUP surfing when there were waves and trying some whitewater on the Dart. 

She moved to South Wales at the beginning of the year and has fallen in love with the beaches, the community and the surf on the Gower Peninsula. Sarah is an outdoor education tutor and enjoys seeing people thrive and grow in the outdoors. 

Sarah Perkins - SUP Sub Committee Member

Sarah is originally from a windsurf background and took to a SUP on those non-windy days. She is now a regular on the race scene in short and ultra distance, but always favours a race on the sea. Sarah is a keen SUP surfer and has competed successfully internationally in the above SUP disciplines, with highlights being taking home medals at the ICF World Championships in 2022. 

Workwise Sarah is a biologist at Cardiff University, where her research focuses on infectious diseases of wildlife, water health and species conservation. She is passionate about responsible use of the environment by water users and access to clean water for people and for wildlife. Sarah brings excitement and motivation to join a diverse group of fellow SUP enthusiasts on this committee. 

Ben Fothergill - SUP Sub Committee Member

Ben grew up on the rugged West coast of Wales where the mountains and rivers meet the sea. This is reflected in Ben’s interests and choice of profession. Coming from a family of skiers, runners, sailors, climbers and paddlers Ben’s childhood was based around adventuring outside. 

After finishing school Ben worked in the outdoor industry for a couple of years before studying Ocean Science at Plymouth University. After leaving university Ben worked as a research diver in Wales and England before heading off to the Maldives to work as marine biology researcher. Throughout this time Ben was also working his way through his outdoor qualifications in the mountains, on the sea and on the rivers.

Ben has worked in the outdoors around the world from the Maldives, New Zealand, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland and throughout the UK.

Ben has been surfing most of his life. His SUP Journey started in 2005 when the first Surf SUPs started to turn up in the UK, Surf SUP has been his main passion ever since with coastal journeying and down winding being a natural progression. Ben has been lucky enough to SUP in Europe, US, Maldives, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, England, and his favourite; Wales. 

Ben runs a sea kayak guiding and coaching company (Sea Kayak Guides) as well as a SUP guiding and coaching sister company (SUP Guides) based in St David’s Pembrokeshire.

He’s looking forward to being a part of SUP development in Wales.

Lisa Boore - SUP Sub Committee Member

Lisa took up SUP Surfing and touring more than ten years ago, where her love for SUP developed. 

This led to developing whitewater paddling skills and experimenting with Whitewater SUP on local South Wales rivers. This soon became a regular way to enjoy moving water, adapting her canoe experience and learning from others who were pioneering the sport. 

Lisa has marshalled and competed in SUP X Races and Rough Waters races. She believes the sharing of experiences through the SUP community at events has been a great way to meet and coach others. 

Lisas personal paddling highlights have included the River Findhorn in Scotland as well as paddling to Flat Holm Island in the Bristol Channel.

Lisa has paddled many coastal areas around Britain and undertaken multi day expeditions by SUP as well as taking the opportunity to paddle many other places around the world. 

Lisa has been a Provider for British Canoeing SUP Leadership Awards since their inception and will soon be a SUP coach award provider.

Lisas background is in the Outdoor Education environment, for the last 20 years coaching Canoe and Kayak as well as land based activities, and looks forward to bringing this experience to the committee.