She has recently started purchasing her own fleet of boats, I think Hannah has caught the boating bug!

Nathan Edwards
Nathan started as a very nervous beginner at the Monday evening pool sessions. He learned to roll over the year by sheer perseverance. Nathan regularly attends the weekend dock sessions and has recently completed both his First Aid Training and the SESA Qualification. His confidence has grown so much from the nervous beginner at his first pool session and I felt so proud when he completed the annual Little Eye Sea Kayak Race despite the appalling conditions

Luke Durband
Luke has only started paddling this year and has been a regular at Thursday night “no rules polo”. He regularly paddles on Saturday and Tuesday junior club sessions and loves canoe polo. He is a member of the under 16s canoe polo team and recently stood in to play for the Under 21s in their division 4 tournament at Collingwood Dock. He is fearless in play and seems to score goals with apparent ease.

He is a regular at the Swim Safety events. John regularly arranges trips on canals & flat waters & at the docks most weekends. If you feed him the odd custard donut he will spend time by the slipway helping you improve what you have learned in the pool & put it into practise.

Pete Thomas
Peter was leading a group on the Improvers Sea Kayak trip to Puffin Island. Conditions were decidedly bumpy in the sound and he managed to safely usher his group through the worst of the overfalls and on to the safety of the sheltered water behind the island. Peter was at the back and unknown to his group was knocked over by a larger wave and fluffed his roll. The tide quickly sped him through the sound and it was about 15 minutes later before Karl Winrow came to his aid to put him back in his boat, certainly the longest swim of the year.

Julie Brookes
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.

Rhys Legge

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.

Pete Thomas
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.

Peter McComasky
During the Liverpool Triathlon swim safety cover(exit ramp in front of all the spectators). 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. This resulted in him 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.

& John Fay

Sarah Gille

Sarah always gives 100 percent and always aims to improve her paddling skills! She is an amazing person to be with on the river with as she always has a huge smile and encourages everyone! She is incredibly enthusiastic even when things don’t quite go to plan!!! Sarah has had an awesome year both personally with her new look and paddling coming on a storm. Her whitewater paddling has gone from strength to strength and her whitewater song is well worth a listen.

Sam Preston

Sam doesn’t just look cool in his Jackson Fun, he paddles it well, often rolling or performing vertical playboat moves. You can catch Sam happily trying out his paddling skills; from surf to slalom, & rock hopping in his sea boat (one that’s tippy enough to scare most of the grown ups). He can keep up with those grown ups out on a sea trip too. This nomination is for a young paddler who has developed their skills on all types water over the last 12 months.

Carl Leungsangnam, Mark Moore

Brian Green, Alex Hunter, Chris Turner