News

Success for SOGB squad in Athens

It might not be as well publicised as next year’s London 2012 Olympics however this summers's Special Olympics World Games has brought success to the GB canoe squad bringing back ten medals.

A total of 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 180 nations competed in 22 Olympic sports. A team of 215 delegates, including 151 athletes, travelled to Athens as part of the Special Olympics Great Britain squad - with six taking part in the canoeing. Held in Athens in June, this year's event was the thirteenth Games of its type offering an opportunity to showcase the Special Olympics movement as well as celebrate the abilities of people with learning disabilities.

Supported by head coach Andrew Beynon and Southampton based coach Terri Hardcastle, the team took part in the 200m and 500m K1 in a competition similar to the Paddle-Ability events which take part at National Sprint Regattas, Nottingham. This format sees athletes split into time bands allowing them to compete in divisions alongside other athletes of a similar ability.

Southampton Canoe Club's Neil Hartley won gold in the 200m and bronze in the 500m whilst team mate James Savoury of Special Olympics Wales won 500m gold and bronze in the 200m. Two more gold medals came from Special Olympics Wales team mates when Robert Phibben, the youngest member of the team at 15 years of age, won the 500m Division 12 category and Stephen Beynon paddled to victory in the 200m Division 18 category.

Earlier in the competition the team came down with a stomach bug threatening to affect some of the performances. Talking about his win, Stephen said: "‘I feel that I did well and was happy with my performance, the team spirit has been great, despite the start to the week!"

Head Coach, Andrew Beynon, said: ‘the team’s performance was absolutely outstanding; to come back from the whole team being unwell to winning so many medals was just brilliant!’ he went on to say that both he and Terri were very proud of the team's achievements.

Other medal winners included:

200m K1: Andrew Williams (Division 22: Bronze), Robert Phibben (Division 25: Bronze), Stella Jelly (Division 28: Silver).

500m K1: Neil Harley (Division 2: Bronze), Andrew Williams (Division 7: Bronze).

For more information on SOGB and to keep up to date with the teams progress visit http://www.specialolympicsgbteam.org.uk/.

Paracanoing announced as New Paralympic sport.

The International Paralympic Committee has selected Canoeing as one of the new sports to be added to the 2016 program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After two years of hard campaigning and the resulting rapid advancement of the sport, Paracanoe is now very much on the international sporting agenda and with IPC support, this growth is set to continue. Making it into the Paralympic program was the ultimate goal of the ICF's Canoeing For All Committee who lead the Paracanoe Project.
This year has seen a vast increase in paddlers competing at National Regattas at Holme Pierre Point as well and an ever rising number of enquiries from individuals and clubs who are interested in Paracanoe.

At the 2010 World Championships in Poznan 5 British athletes competed against competitors from 28 other countries from which Jono Broome Brought home a Bronze Medal and it is the hope of the ICF that Paracanoe has a greater presence at the 2011 World Championships in Szeged.

Paracanoe Team Training in Preparation to Szeged 2011

At with all competition preparation starts long before major competition and this year has been no exception for the country’s top Paracanoeists. After a successful 2010 World Campionships paddlers were back together for their Monthly training session at Burton Canoe Club on 31st October. This session was also the first Open day session allowing new aspiring Paracanoeists to have a go at training with the squad.

On the Open Day coach Trevor Wetherall commented ‘the training day at Burton Canoe Club was a success for those paddlers that attended’ and ‘We started on the water with a group introductory paddle to see what the standard was, with some short speed work, up to 2mins with same rest. I ended the first session with two[2] 500m time trials to assess fitness and speed. After a short lunch, I used ergos, to work on the forward paddling technique, this proved very popular , a large mirror would of been useful to improve the understanding.’

The team have even braved this December’s bad weather abandoning training on the Regatta Lake at Holme Pierre point and taking to the river Trent!

The group have been meeting monthly with Coach Trevor Wetherall at a number of locations around the country. Typically the sessions have been a full day including a range of indoor, outdoor and weights training including paddlers receiving their training program for the following month.

Thank you to the Clubs who have, are in the future and have offered to host the Paracanoe training sessions. The next Open Day session is at Holme Pierre Point, if you would like further information on Paracanoe please contact Clarisse Smith.

September 5th saw the presentation of the Annual Paddle-Ability Awards. This year has been particularly successful with Jono Broom winning Bronze at the World Championships and a vast increase in the number of people take part in the Paddle-Ability races at Sprint Regattas as well as a positive increase in the number of people enquiring about the activities out there for disabled paddlers.

This year awards were presented by GB Paracanoe Coach Trevor Wetherall and Competition Official Pete Moule. The Mens A/B Trophy was awarded to James Oldham while the Men’s C Trophy went to his GB Paracanoe his team mate Jono Broome. Competition for the Women’s A/B Trophy was tight with Lucy Gardner only just missing out to here GB Paracanoe Teammate Maggie Taylor.

Catherine Robinson found herself with two trophies when she was awarded both the Junior Women’s and Most Improved Junior Women’s Trophies, while Cameron Bentley was awarded the same in the Junior Mens categories. The Senior Men’s and Women’s most improved trophies were awarded to James Savoury and Katie Smith both who have shown substantial improvement over the season.

An Endeavor Trophy is also awarded to one Male and on Females participants who has really shown great determination and have really pushed themselves, this year these were awarded to Dougie Downing and Tara Chettle.

Other Trophies Awarded: Mens C Trophy - Jonathon Broome, Mens D/E Trophy - James Savoury, Mens F/H Trophy - Carl Wilson, Junior Mens B Trophy - Karl Hassell, Junior Mens C/D Trophy - Robert Phibben, Womens C/D Trophy - Heather Osmond.

Paracanoe Open Training Session

Do you want to compete on the World Stage?
Are you a current Va’a or Sprint Kayaker?
Are you competing in another sport at national or international level and want to try something new?

After a very successful year for the GB Paracanoe* team we are hosting an open training day for people who have the potential to be in future Paracanoe Teams. We are opening this session up to current paddlers who have the potential to become world class Paracanoeists as well as those who are coming from other sports who have competed at a similar level.

The day, held at Burton Canoe Club in Staffordshire, is due to start at 10am with a view to finish at 4pm. The day will involve a number of different activities so participants should bring enough clothing for two water sessions as well as dry gym and ergo sessions. No food will be provided on the day so attendees should bring their own food, snacks and refreshments.

Places for this session are limited so if you are interested please contact Clarisse Smith at clarisse.smith@canoe-england.org.uk

Please see the Paracanoe Open Training Session PDF for further details.

*Paracanoe is the term used by the International Canoe Federation for canoeists with physical disabilities.

Bronze for Paracanoeing at the Sprint World Championship

Paracanoeing has made its debut as World Championship event in Poznan, Poland at the Sprint World Championship (19th – 22nd August). Five Paracanoeists represented GBR against other Paracanoeists from twenty nine countries. The competition ran over two days in Mens and Womens K1 and V1 events.

Jono Broome from Newark in Nottinghamshire won Great Britains first World Championship Paracanoeing medal claiming bronze in the Mens K1 A category, finishing just behind Antonio De Diego from Spain and Frenandes Padua from Brazil who took gold. This was Jono’s first major international competition having started canoeing as a recreational activity aged 6 years old he went on to take up competition, after some encouragement from Newark Coach Julie Lowe, and has been training and competing for the past 10 years.

Jono commented: “It’s been nice to compare my times against other paddlers and see how I come up against them. The start to my race wasn’t perfect but I got up to speed as quick as possible, I flopped a couple of stokes towards the end of the race but did what I could and winning the bronze is a great reward. There has been a good team spirit - It’s a real step forward for Paracanoeing, hopefully the IOC will look at it now and include it in the 2016.”

When asked what he enjoys the most about Paracanoeing Jono said ‘I enjoy pushing myself to the limits, mentally and physically, a good workout gives me a sense of achievement and wellbeing.’

Coach, Trevor Wetherall’s, comments about the whole teams achievements was: ‘All paddlers achieved Personal Best times in their quest to win medals, which in its self, is a great achievement. He then went on to say that all the team had shown tremendous commitment and courage to try to be the best at the World Championships and that it had been a privilege to work with this team over the last 7 months.

The team’s determination and enthusiasm was demonstrated by Lucy Gardeners and Maggie Taylors late entry into Womens V1 despite having never raced in that category before, Trevor said ‘they did amazingly well to get down the course, this was their first time in this boat and Lucy cam 5th!’

Results: K1; Men; LTA James Oldham xth, A Jonathon Broom 3rd
             K1; Women; LTA Lucy Gardner 4th, TA Maggie Taylor 5th
             V1; Men; Patrick Mahoney 4th
             V1; Women; Lucy Gardner 5th

Focus on Maggie Taylor

I started sprint kayaking in 1992 after spending time in Sweden with Geoff Smedley Canadian canoeing the previous summer. He asked me to compete in European championships at Ferrara, Italy. I train mostly at my canoe club - Maidstone. When visiting Joe Brown I also train at Gailey Canoe Club. Joe has helped enormously in getting my kayak (and outrigger) prepared for the World Champs. I enjoy winning - especially after working very hard in training before the event or should I say, knowing I have paddled as hard as I can and getting the best result possible at the time! I also enjoy the company of other paddlers - yes, my competitors! I would like to say a big thanks to all those who have helped me get ready and prepare for Poznan. These include: Joe Brown (especially sorting my outrigger) and the mileage covered since I was chosen for the team, Paul Newman for the help in training and all other Maidstone Canoe Club members for their help, Gina and Allens Taxis, Faversham for helping with good transport costs.

Focus on Patrick Mahoney

I am a member of OCUK (Outrigger Canoe United Kingdom ) and train out of the University of London Boat House in Chiswick with whom I have been paddling since 2003. OCUK is the largest and premier Outrigger Canoe Club in London, the passion for the sport within the club is infectious and as the only adaptive paddler I can't praise my fellow members and coach enough for all of their assistance, perseverance and the sharing of my passion with the sport.
I first started in the sport of Outrigger Canoe Racing out in Australia in 1984 and immediately fell in love with the sport and the fact that it was primarily open ocean racing, which is now slightly different being on the tidal side of the Thames! The most enjoyable aspect of my canoeing is that it's you versus Mother Nature and the elements; with a strong Polynesian Cultural background we are hugely respectful towards her.

Sprint racing in the V1 category was new to me until several months prior to the 2006 IVF (International Va'a Federation) World sprints held in New Zealand where I won a silver medal in the V1 500m Adaptive event. In the 2008 IVF World Sprints held in Sacremento , California I was again a silver medalist for the same event. Being able to compete in events such as these allows me to push myself to achieve the best that I can and to hopefully drive others with my enthusiasm for the sport."

Club Recieve Grassroots funding

The 4A’s (Adventure and Activities for All Abilities) Club based in Newark have been awarded a grant from the Nottingham Community Foundation. The club has attracted new members and continues to grow giving more disabled children and young people the opportunity to compete in a competitive sport at a national and international level. The club is run by the coach and volunteers who train the paddlers, transport to and from competitions, and act as bank support ensuring all sessions are completely safe and effective. Not all club members compete; some disabled participants attend the club to enhance their social interaction. The club this year has managed a very impressive list of awards and trophies with one member of the club going to the first World Paddle ability Championships, two members went to the Special Olympics Summer Games and winning 200 and 500 metres mens gold. Also one member won a silver at the National Championships and the club won Junior Men A, Men A, Junior Mens D, Most Improved, Junior Ladies B and Endeavour Awards.

The Club was awarded £4,500 through the Grassroots fund to provide new equipment for their members. The Club have used the funding to purchase some new specialise boats as well as an ergo.

GB Paracanoeist Wins Regional Award

Kayaker, Lucy Gardener, has been presented with the prestigious, Female Sports Personality of the Year Award at the 2010 npower North East Disability Sports Awards held at Durham County Cricket Club.

Lucy has been kayaking for five years and has achieved a great deal in a little time. In August 2009, she entered the World Championships in Canada; it was the first time disabled kayaking was included and Lucy was the first woman to represent Great Britain in the category. Placing fifth in the 200m race Lucy went on to win the ladies National Championships in September. Lucy was presented with her award by Paralympic sprinter, Hazel Robson.

Gary Doig, npower's community involvement manager, said: "Lucy is now working towards the 2010 World Championships in Poland and, although kayaking is not included in the 2012 Paralympics, she has her sights set on 2016. Her enthusiasm and commitment is what commended her to the judging panel and was a reason for awarding her one of the three, annual npower bursaries."

Coach is Surprised Winner at Annual Awards Ceremony
Former Olympian John Court, has been awarded the prestigious 2010 npower Midlands Disability Sports Ambassador of Sport award at the gala celebration organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport held at Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham.

John was presented with the award for his campaigning for adaptive outrigger-canoeing to be recognised at local, national and international level. During his involvement in the sport he has formulated a classification system and lobbied for adaptive outrigger canoeing to be included in the Paralympics and worked on developing seating solutions for spinal-cord injury paddlers.

John coached disability crews for both the 2005 and 2008 world outrigger canoe championships and he actively fundraised in order to get those crews to the championships. He promotes outrigger canoeing for people, often with severe learning difficulties, within Stoke-on-Trent and North.

Kevin Rodgers, community involvement executive for sponsors, npower, comments: "The Ambassador award is the most important award of the Midlands Disability Sports Awards evening; it is presented to someone who has committed their life to developing disability sport and has facilitated the enjoyment and achievement of others. John is a worthy winner."

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