Awards for All boost for canoe club

Dec 21 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A HIGHLAND Perthshire canoe club is toasting an early Christmas present, after receiving a £6800 Awards for All Scotland grant towards their ambitious slalom team project, writes Gordon Bannerman.

Yesterday, official Lois Maslen said the timely grant would help young Breadalbane paddlers onto a performance pathway that potentially could take them all the way to Olympic level.

The whitewater canoe slalom racing arm of the club was started in 2007, with a handful of interested young paddlers meeting up regularly on Loch Tay and on the River Tay with a coach to try their hand at the sport.

The Big County club aims to provide a “feeder” pathway into the Scottish Canoe Association’s (SCA) Regional Training Squad.

The is the first link in a chain that can guide gifted youngsters all the way through to Olympic success.

In order to get onto the SCA Regional Squad youngsters have to attain Division 3 status in the UK national ranking system by competing in slalom races.

In turn, to compete in slalom races paddlers need access to slalom-specific kit and equipment.

The Awards for All grant has enabled the Breadalbane Club to place orders for much-needed, durable slalom boats and kit that will launch their youngsters into their whitewater slalom careers.

The kit could be on board by the end of January.

Lois said: “This is a very exciting time for the club – we are able to provide opportunities for youngsters from all backgrounds to join in a competitive sport that while individually focused in terms of ranking attainment, also builds an incredible team spirit within the club.

“It also encourages and promotes a healthy life style, personal discipline and organisational skills. Getting up for a 7am training session on a very cold winter morning is definitely discipline building!

“We are very grateful to the Awards for All Scheme for this grant as it really does help youngsters get launched into this demanding sport.

“Breadalbane Canoe Club is a volunteer-led, inclusive club providing the means for individuals to participate in paddle sports at either recreational or competitive levels. Our aim is to provide opportunities that would otherwise not be available through the provision of kit and equipment and appropriate qualified teaching/coaching skills.”

For further information log on to www.canoescotland.org