Each year the club asks for nominations for our four Club Awards.  Members can vote for each category by sending an email to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk with their vote.  Awards are then presented at the clubs AGM on Monday 13th October 2014
	Trophies kindly made by Mike Bell at mbcmodels.com
	2014 Nominations for Paddler of the Year
	(club member who has either made the most progress or achievement in paddlesport)
	Julie Brookes	Ben Henshall	Sophie Steventon	John Fay
	Since starting out paddling cautiously with no spray deck a few years back, Julie has blossomed this year and can be seen mixing it in overfalls, taking on The Swellies, playing in waves, competing in the Hilbre race, showing up at every club talk and most other events.  Heck, we’re almost fed up of seeing her smiling face on every other photo on the website!!  We’re nominating her because she’s really improved her paddling and has obviously won many friends in Liverpool Canoe Club.	Ben started paddling with us on a beginners course but we knew he would progress rapidly when he rolled at the docks on that course.  Ben's other hobby is sky diving but he has been determined to succeed and has rapidly progressed to paddling white water and surfing.	Sophie has made amazing progress this year. She has attended most of the club's 'big' events  and she has made a great contribution to all of them. She encourages everyone and always has a big smile! A fantastic girl and a fantastic paddler!!	John Fay started with us as a beginner but has rapidly improved his paddling.  He is keen to try every aspect of the sport and regularly paddles on inland water, the sea and rivers.  Crosby surf has been his recent playground.
	2014 Nominations for Young Paddler of the Year
	(Under 18 club member who has made either the most progress or achievement in paddlesport)
	Rhys Legge	Kieran Sinnott	Charlie Murphy	Harvey Harwood
	Rhys has been a regular attendee at junior club on a Tuesday evening at both the docks and Broadgreen pool.  As a junior he is now a very competent paddler and was the first to learn to roll at Broadgreen pool.  This spurred many other younger paddlers to follow suit.  Rhys is keen to paddle any type of boat and volunteered to paddle in the clubs West Kirby Sea Kayak Race this year.	Kieran puts 100 percent effort into his freestyle kayaking.  He is down at the docks twice a week cartwheeling, Stern stalling etc. He also paddles whenever he can, appearing at Tees Barrage, surfing, Anglesey weekends and some pool sessions. Due to his efforts he has also been nominated to become freestyle rep with Sam Preston! He is an excellent paddler and deserves a reward.	Charlie is one of the younger juniors but has been paddling for about 18 months. He is a regular on the Junior trips and attends the docks sessions in the summer and  the winter pool sessions at Broadgreen, where he is currently learning to roll. This summer Charlie went on the Alps trip and paddled on the Durance, the Lower Guil and the Middle Guisane. Charlie loved the paddling but also enjoyed getting involved in the white water rescue practice.	Harvey has improved a lot this year and has even started open canoeing and helping to convert his Jackson fun kayak into a C1.   He paddles every Thursday and spends more time in the water messing about, but his favourite place is Four Mile Bridge on the Anglesey Weekends.
	2014 Nominations for Volunteer of the Year
	(Club member who has given their services to help the club)
	Rosie Diver	Adrian Mould	Pete Thomas	Richie Burgess	Julie Brookes
	Rosie is a fantastic coach and gets across her passion for paddling in such a subtle way.  She willingly volunteered to run open boat sessions at the club along with some local river trips on the Dee and Weaver.   Recently she has led a series of beginner open boat sessions and the very successful ladies only sessions at the docks.	Adrian sort of imposes himself in the club. Now this could be due to the fact that he is rather tall and imposing, but in reality he is a big figure in the club for his supportive nature on the sea. The support, advice and confidence that he gives to fellow paddlers is appreciated and has enabled paddlers to push their limits. His numerous "slackers" trips on sea or just training on the Dee have enabled many club members to get out when they otherwise might not have.  He has coordinated safety cover and has initiated the famous "club band"  yet again bringing club members together.	Pete has developed rapidly over the years and this experience is now being used to good effect when he organises many sea kayaking trips and events for the club. Not only has he run "Club Expeditions" to Majorca, Scotland and Anglesey but he initiated the "introduction to sea kayaking" sessions at the docks which culminated in a day trip on the Menai Straits for many newcomers.	Richie Burgess has been running the weekend junior club and youth sessions week in week out. He has organised and delivered these greatly appreciated sessions at the docks without fail for some considerable time. The work and enthusiasm that he imparts to his fellow paddlers is amazing and a great role model to others. The effort, time and skill he puts into developing others is really appreciated.	Julie has run the Sunday morning sessions for several years now, turning up at the docks every weekend, opening the shed, sorting gear and helping people get on the water.  She is always willing to welcome new members and get them paddling. Julie has helped the club become what it is today, a friendly welcoming place to paddle.  She has won many friends in Liverpool Canoe Club.
	2014 Nominations for Swimmer of the Year
	(Club member who has had the best "out of boat experience")
	Peter McComasky	Roy McHale and Joe Sheppard	Sam Preston
	Following in the last Para-Athlete to the exit ramp during our Liverpool Triathlon swim safety cover, a group of about 10 LCC members found ourselves all together and hungry around about lunchtime. The next wave of athletes were an hour off so we were told that a packed lunch and cups of tea were available inside the Echo Arena. In an effort to get off the water quickly, one of our members took a run at the floating plastic exit ramp. It was relatively steep so his attempt failed gracefully as he slid backwards into the water; no harm done. Seeing this, Peter McComasky (of Commonwealth Games safety cover fame) shouted out “put some effort into it, I’ll show you how it’s done” whereupon he paddled at the ramp full tilt but again, only reached the same high point as that achieved by the previous LCC member. BUT, sliding backwards this time into the water, he was flicked upside down and had to wet exit right in front of the gathered thousand or so spectators, TV cameras, Ambulance Crew etc. and, worst of all, his LCC friends. All applauded loudly but were too busy laughing to go to his aid as he emerged onto the ramp soaking wet with a big grin on his face.	Joint nomination for Roy and Joe in the duo on approach to the Rab wave. The anticipation was huge , the result was hysterical but fortunately witnessed by about 100 spectators on the bank.  However this was not the only time they ended up in the water together.......  The Scottish Easter weekend saw the pair on the Spean Gorge.  Having wisely decided to portage "headbanger" on the River Spean in Scotland, Joe seal launched back into the river. Unfortunately he switched off and ended up in a really nasty back eddie that resulted in him capsizing whilst pinned against a wall. Roy immediately went to the rescue, unfortunately he came in so fast that it led to Joe being pinned further against the wall and having to exit his boat. Roy now in same position as Joe was also forced to exit his boat.	Back in April I went to Tees Barrage Whitewater Centre and Sam Preston was in the van with me. For two and a half hours Sam told us how good he was at looping, cartwheeling, pirouettes and other strange sounding kayak trick stuff. He'd been looping at the Burrs. Cartwheeling at Four Mile Bridge. He told us he never swims, not even at Crosby earlier this year when we caught him on camera. He just got out and walked back to the side. He did not swim. EVER!  Well, I was looking forward to Sam's loops. Everyone was looking forward to Sam's Loops.   At the end of our first run on the Barrage I turned to find Sam's boat floating upside down at the last rapid. I quickly turned his boat over to make sure it was empty. Thirty seconds later Sam appeared lying on his back. He was not swimming he told me. He was seeing what it would be like if you did actually need to swim.   Never before have I seen so much bravado from someone, ripped away from them in a matter of moments. His whole confidence was taken from him and he did not try a spin or surf all day. We took the mickey out of him all day after that.  Good to see that his confidence is back. And he can nearly loop now!