2023 Paddler of the Year Awards
Each year the club asks for nominations for our three Club Awards. 

Members can NOW vote for each of the three categories by tapping here to submit their vote(s).  Family membership allows two email addresses to be registered so families are allowed two votes for each category. Go to “Edit Profile (Your Details)” from the membership tab to add a second email address.

Awards will then be presented at the club’s AGM on Monday 23rd October 2023 at Victoria Memorial Club, Church Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 2LW (7:30 pm)

 

2023 Nominations for Paddler of the Year
(club member who has either made the most progress or achievement in paddlesport)

Tim Haines

Eamon Hanlon

Harry Ruggles

I’d like to nominate Tim Haines for Paddler of the Year for his solo trips to the Isle of Man, Blackpool and Anglesey Circumnavigation.  In addition to inspirational sea kayak trips, Tim has run regular distance paddles at the docks.

Eamon is an active and enthusiastic member of LCC. Having started at the Junior club with his children, where he is still a regular volunteer. He has racked up an impressive 107 Sea Kayak paddles at the docks and he now also runs a weekly session. Eamon is a regular at the Anglesey Adult and Junior Club weekends and is a confident paddler and leader.

Harry is a keen white-water paddler who has been active over the last couple of years, paddling in North Wales, the Lakes and also Scotland and the French Alps. Harry enjoys challenging himself on difficult rapids and is an all-around nice guy both on and off the water.

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Nominations for Young Paddler of the Year
(18 or under club member who has made either the most progress or achievement in paddlesport)

Clara Clews

Hattie Goetzee

Courtney Hanlon

Clara is always at the junior club at the docks or in the pool, happily chatting to paddlers new and regular, young and old. She is helpful and encouraging. Clara had a challenging time at the junior Anglesey weekend but has since faced her fears: going on the Chester Weir trip, sliding down the weir; and going to Thursday pool sessions, capsizing with a spray deck and doing T-rescues. She is now trying to hand roll. 

Hattie started kayaking last year. She came to lots of the junior pool sessions over the winter and practised capsizing and side rolls. Hattie's paddling skills have really improved over the spring and summer junior sessions at the docks. She is now a confident paddler. She gets on well with the other juniors and enjoys herself when she is paddling. 

Courtney is a familiar face at Junior Club on Sundays. She is friendly and always good at spotting where other junior members need help or encouragement. She enjoyed the junior Anglesey weekend, particularly spotting wildlife on the sea paddles.  She particularly challenged herself rock hopping and paddling into the caves. Courtney enjoyed shooting practice at the junior polo session. She has also done a couple of distance paddles in a sea kayak at the docks. 

 

 

 

Corin Newton

Marcus Smith

 

 

Corin joined after the club open day. He was keen to get in a kayak and eager to learn how to capsize and effectively capsize using a spray deck, which he managed to do within a few sessions. He has also done a couple of distance paddles in a sea kayak at the docks and is keen to go faster!

 

Marcus Smith has demonstrated his much-improved kayak handling skills at the Anglesey Junior Club meet he enjoyed paddling into every cave and challenged himself with some bouncy rock-hopping sessions.

 

 

2023 Nominations for Volunteer of the Year

(Club member who has given their services to help the club)

Derek Connelly

Kevin Corcoran

Amy Newnham

Derek is something of an unsung hero, running regular evening paddles at the docks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. My introduction to paddling outdoors, in February 2022, followed several visits to the pool, with a friend suggesting an evening paddle at the docks with Derek. This was my first experience of paddling outside and in the dark of a cold winter evening, so I was apprehensive. I needn't have worried as Derek helped me select a kayak, get kitted out and was alongside offering helpful paddling tips and reassurance when it was needed.

I was hooked on evening paddles, enjoying the reflection of the lights around the docks on clear winter evenings, sunsets in the summer and getting to know other paddlers in the club. I've paddled regularly with Derek on these sessions since then, which has improved my technique and stamina, both very helpful when transferring to sea kayaking trips outside the docks. I've seen Derek with other newcomers to the sport, providing the same help, reassurance and guidance.

Kevin has consistently held his paddle fit sessions throughout the year, continued to develop his personal paddling and coaching skills and opened sessions to aspirant paddlers creating a ladder of opportunity for a broad cohort.

Kevin has run two paddle fit sessions every week for over two years now and recently has passed his British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award.

Since October 2022, Amy has become the primary coordinator and leader of the Junior Club. In the pool sessions, her teaching experience meant that she was the natural leader of each session, marshalling sufficient volunteers to work with her and planning each session to ensure each child was appropriately challenged. Inventive games such as chasing the tail (gaffer tape of the back of boats) ensure the sessions are fun. Since the start of the Summer docks sessions, Amy has again coordinated and led every session.

 (due to the fact that the 'actual' Junior Coordinator has disappeared across the UK and Europe each weekend helping Poppy Clews achieve her Canoe Polo ambitions).

Amy is thorough and conscientious and she ensures Junior Club is a supportive and welcoming place for all, including many Juniors with special educational needs.