Welcome to the
Winter Issue of Canoe Focus
December is traditionally a month when we
look back over the year just past but we also
look forward to the year ahead and make our
New Year resolutions.
I am pleased to welcome our new Chair to British
Canoeing. Professor John Coyne CBE was appointed on 01
November, together with Bronagh Kennedy who joined the
Board as an Independent Member. I am sure they will both
make a great contribution.
2016 was a pretty spectacular year. We reviewed the Rio
Olympic success in the previous issue - the two gold and
two Silver medals represented the best ever Games for the
British Canoeing Team.
A month later the Paracanoe team went one better,
winning five medals with three gold and two bronze in one
of the most exciting hours of sport I have ever watched.
These incredible performances are featured from page 22.
There were other outstanding international performances
in the late summer months too and these successes are
celebrated from page 14.
We held our Coaching Conference and Volunteer Awards
recently at Eastwood Hall near Nottingham. The Coaching
Conference was well attended and feedback has been
very positive. We are now planning for the next Coaching
Conference which is to be held in February 2018.
The Volunteer Awards were fantastic. There were so many
inspirational examples of volunteers of all ages and from all
parts of the country improving people’s lives and making a
huge contribution to their clubs and communities.
The MacGregor Challenge Award was won by George
Bullard and Olly Hicks who undertook an epic sea kayak
journey from Greenland to Scotland. The award was
presented to them on the night by Liam Heath our 200m
Olympic Champion. The contrast was not lost on anyone
in the room. These were two very different examples of
achievement and excellence which really did showcase the
incredible breadth of our sport.
Canoe Focus Winter 2016
2017 will start a new era for British Canoeing. On March
25th we will launch our new strategy in Manchester. This
will set out a clear vision and 11 ambitions for the next
four years.
These ambitions include increasing our membership
numbers and providing more member benefits. We are
pleased to have renewed our partnership with Cotswold
Outdoor and I hope you take advantage of the great
discounts through the year.
The strategy is one for the whole sport. All those in
decision making roles in clubs, centres and committees will
need to play a part if we are to succeed in making British
Canoeing a truly great organisation.
That is certainly a big New Year resolution. It’s one that my
colleagues on the Board and the staff are all signed up to.
Have a great Christmas and let’s hope for a fab 2017 for
everyone involved in British Canoeing.
David Joy
Chief Executive
Focus on the
Disciplines
Read more on page 14
In Search
of Heritage
Read more on page 66
Womens
Sports week
Read more on page 49
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