Funding helps Scottish canoeing paddle to success
Tuesday 21 June 2005
sportscotland is delighted to announce funding totalling £195,000 to the Scottish Canoe Association (SCA), to support key areas of the sport’s development and performance plan.
The money will benefit all areas of the sport from club development to elite athlete support and is a combination of £140,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £55,000 of sportscotland Exchequer funding from the Scottish Executive.
Olympic silver medallist Campbell Walsh headlines a strong performance record for Scottish canoeing in recent years and the SCA’s performance plan aims to build on this success as well as providing elite Scots with a pathway onto the UK World Class Performance Plan for canoeing. Walsh won silver in slalom at Athens last year and has successfully progressed through Lottery funding onto the World Class Performance Programme. He raced his way back from a serious injury sustained in a freak accident earlier this year to book his place in the GB Team for the European Championships which takes place later this week (24 – 26 June). Four other Scots, including Walsh’s youngster sister Kimberly, were also recently selected for the 12 strong squad to compete in the event. It is the strongest ever Scottish representation in the GB Team.
£130,000 of sportscotland’s investment will provide Athlete Support and fund elite coach development, to target both Olympic disciplines of slalom and sprint canoeing. Athlete Support is largely managed by the governing body on behalf of the athletes, towards coaching, training and competition costs. The funding will also assist the SCA to develop high quality coaches for elite paddlers in preparation for competition on the international stage.
Shuna Braithwaite, who won a silver medal at the Junior European Championships last year in the sprint discipline, is already making waves in the sport. The 18 year old, who made her debut in senior competitions this year, has been identified as a potential medal hope for Beijing in 2008, and will benefit from sportscotland funding through Athlete Support. By investing in her now, it is hoped that she will start to realise her full potential in Beijing and then be a strong medal prospect in the 2012 Olympic Games.
"It is particularly pleasing to receive investment in our infrastructure. We now have most of the key people in post to support our members and ensure that we have a winning structure and culture to develop the sport across Scotland."
The sportscotland award will also help to support and strengthen the infrastructure of the SCA to further develop participation and performance levels. The SCA continues to enhance services for members including improving access to waterways across the country, holding training courses and exhibitions to highlight the appeal of canoeing. The appointment of a Chief Executive in 2004 is already reaping rewards for canoeing - one of Scotland’s most successful medal winning sports – by bringing more professional management into the organisation. The Chief Executive will lead and oversee the development and implementation of canoeing’s coach education strategy in relation to the future introduction of the UK coaching certificate.
A key focus of the SCA will also be to establish and introduce Long Term Paddler Development (LPAD) initiatives for all canoeing disciplines. They will identify and nurture talent to feed the performance structure and also increase retention of paddlers within the sport by ensuring they are training at a level to suit their needs and ability. £5,000 of sportscotland funding will support SCA’s implementation of LTAD coaching, development and competition principals.
Stuart Smith, Chief Executive, Scottish Canoe Association, said: "The Scottish Canoe Association is committed to developing the sport of canoeing in this country, and we have put in place plans and structures to support everyone who wants to participate. We are delighted to receive this award from sportscotland and there is no doubt that much of what we have been able to achieve is attributable to sportscotland investment and partnership.
"It is particularly pleasing to receive investment in our infrastructure. We now have most of the key people in post to support our members and ensure that we have a winning structure and culture to develop the sport across Scotland."
Alastair Dempster, Chairman, sportscotland said: "We are delighted to award £195,000 to the Scottish Canoe Association to support the key areas of their new four year development and performance plan, which aims to encourage people to become more active at a recreational level, whilst also nurturing those who demonstrate the potential to achieve on the international stage.
"Scotland has been extremely successful in producing world class paddlers in recent years and it is important that we continue to work closely with the SCA to further strengthen their structure and enable them to build on recent successes.
- The European Championship will take place in Tacen, Slovenia, Friday 24 June – Sunday 26 June
- A list of the athletes benefiting from Athlete Support is detailed below. Athlete Support is now largely administered through the governing body.
- Integrated investment aims to streamline sportscotland support by combining Lottery and Exchequer funding. This enables governing bodies of sport to submit one development or business plan to be considered across all three sportscotland visions (Achieving Excellence, Developing Potential and Widening Opportunities) at the same time.
- Athlete Support is a funding programme which merges and replaces the former Junior Groups and Talented Athlete programmes and provides a seamless, integrated pathway for the development of emerging talent. It supports the training and preparation programmes for elite athletes who have demonstrated the potential to win medals or equivalent, in significant international competitions and events.
- All athletes who receive Athlete Support will be supported by the sportscotland medical scheme.
Identified athletes by Scottish Canoe Association receiving Athlete Support June 2005:
- Tim Baillie, Aberdeen, AB10
- Edward Kay, Aberdeen, AB10
- Kira Grant, COWDENBEATH, KY4
- Simon Grant, COWDENBEATH, KY4
- Tracey Kinniburgh, DUNFERMLINE, KY12
- Allison McIntosh, EDINBURGH, EH14
- Adam Marshall, Falkirk, FK6
- Andrew Marshall, Falkirk, FK6
- Malcolm Kerr, FALKIRK, FK4
- Aaron Cruikshank, FALKIRK, FK6
- Alastair Moon, FALKIRK, FK4
- Andrew Bain, FALKIRK, FK6
- Chris Black, FALKIRK, FK6
- Emily Brown, FALKIRK, FK6
- Alice Haining, GALASHIELS, TD1
- James Haining, GALASHEILS, TD1
- Claire Narrower, GLENROTHES, KY7
- Graham Harvey, GLENROTHES, KY7
- Stephen Galbraith, GLENROTHES, KY7
- Fraser Florence, NOTTINGHAM, NG7
- Janine Dickie, SELKIRK, TD7
- Ruaridh Riddell, SELKIRK, PD7
Total Athlete Support - £81,000