20
MARCH PADDLER SPOTLIGHT
Words by Caragh McMurtry
FORMER OLYMPIC ROWER AND FOUNDER OF NEURODIVERSE SPORT SHARES HER EXPERIENCE OF JOINING A PADDLING CLUB
For our March Paddler Spotlight , we caught up with Caragh McMurtry , a former Olympic rower and founder of Neurodiverse Sport . In this article , Caragh shares with us her journey of taking up paddling with Kingfisher Canoe Club , a volunteer led club located in Abingdon-on-Thames , Oxfordshire . Caragh also highlights the great efforts and initiatives undertaken by the club .
www . britishcanoeing . org . uk
I don ’ t consider myself disabled , but I have highfunctioning autism . This is not something I tell people unless they ask , but even without knowing this information , I felt so included , supported , and encouraged from my first session . The volunteers who run the sessions at Kingfisher Canoe Club are incredibly knowledgeable and proficient , yet personable - which is sometimes a difficult combination to find !
The community culture at the club is great , and I think that comes from everyone having invested interest in making the club work - because without the members and volunteers , it just wouldn ’ t exist .
The club has brought people from all walks of life , ages and abilities together and has an ethos of safety , enjoyment , and travelling at the pace of the slowest person . If someone is struggling to keep up , whoever is leading the session will drop in some group exercises to allow them to catch up or have a rest . This allows everyone to get something out of each session and to feel good whilst achieving ! It also encourages an inclusive atmosphere where people just want to help and support each other . In other words , the key or lead volunteers at the club do a great job of setting a positive example for others to follow .
Having leaders who set a positive example is key to fostering a positive and inclusive environment overall , and as evidenced by Kingfisher Canoe Club , there ’ s always a way to be inclusive - no matter the range of abilities you have in a session .
Thanks to Caragh for highlighting the great work her club does . You can find a paddling club near you here . If you ’ ve been inspired by Caragh ’ s story to develop your skills or become a coach or leader , see what qualifications are available to you here .
Caragh recently shared her experience of neurodiversity in sport , her sporting achievements , and how it has affected her sporting life on the BCAB Coaching Podcast . It ' s a must-listen for anyone who wants to develop their understanding of neurodivergence or start / continue a conversation with a coach or athlete about this .