Canoeing and kayaking take to the water with sportscotland funding
Tuesday 8 August 2006
sportscotland today announced Lottery funding totalling £189,952 to the Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) to support key areas of the sport’s development and performance plans.
The Scottish Canoe Association is the governing body for canoeing and kayaking in Scotland. Established in 1939, it currently represents about 2,250 individual members, plus some 90 affiliate clubs and associate organisations; and with an estimated 10,000 regular paddling participants in the country, membership is on the rise. The governing body promotes responsible access to water in Scotland, recreation, coaching and competition - from white water racing to sprint, canoe sailing and slalom and surf - and continues to enhance services for members, including training courses and exhibitions to highlight the appeal of its paddle sports.
The sportscotland money will benefit the general running of the SCA, club and volunteering development, and coaching and player improvement, including ‘Long-Term Paddler Development’, to help interested clubs develop regular sessions in other types of canoeing.
Medal success funding of £114,952 will help fund the national coach and performance director, elite coaching for juniors, and the running of the slalom and sprint programme, with a focus to maximize Scottish representation on the UK World-Class Performance Programme (WCPP) and GB teams towards the 2012 Olympics. Currently, around 40% of Team GB slalom canoeists hail from Scotland and UK Sport funding specifically geared to London 2012 is already benefitting them.
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland, said: “We are delighted to award £189,952 to the Scottish Canoe Association to support the key areas of their development and performance plan.
“Canoeing and kayaking are fantastic recreational sports and Scotland’s lochs, rivers and waterways are perfect for exploring on a summer’s day. In addition, Scotland has been extremely successful in producing world-class canoers and kayakers in recent years and it is important that we continue to work closely with the SCA to enhance our teams both at national and GB level.”
Stuart Smith, Chief Executive, Scottish Canoe Association, said:
“This will be an important year for the Scottish Canoe Association as we strengthen our support for club coaches and participants through the introduction of the Long Term Paddler Development framework and events such as the club coaches’ networking weekend, taking place this summer at sportscotland’s National Centre, Glenmore Lodge.”
- A list of the athletes benefiting from Athlete Support is detailed below. Athlete Support is now largely administered through the governing body. All athletes who receive Athlete Support will be supported by the sportscotland medical scheme.
- The Scottish Canoe Association has recently been awarded Foundation Level of the Equity Standard. Launched in November 2004, the Standard is a joint initiative between the four home country Sports Councils and UK Sport. It aims to support the work of the sports sector by providing a framework for sports organisations to help them to engage with people from all backgrounds, break down barriers to participation, and promote more equitable practices in their sports.
- The Scottish Canoe Association have produced two very popular guide books outlining where to go canoeing and kayaking in Scotland; one covers white water, the other more gentle touring water. Proceeds go towards supporting further work/access to water in Scotland. Both guides can be obtained from www.canoescotland.com
Identified athletes receiving Athlete Support
Tim Baillie, NOTTINGHAM, NG2
Andrew Bain, FALKIRK, FK6
Emily Brown, STONEYWOOD, FK6
Aaron Cruickhank, DENNY, FK6
Janine Dickie, SELKIRK, TD7
Fraser Florence, NOTTINGHAM, NG7
Kira Grant, COWDENBEATH, KY4
Simon Grant, COWDENBEATH, KY4
Alice Haining, GALASHIELS, TD1
James Haining, GALASHIELS, TD1
Claire Harrower, GLENROTHES, KY7
Calum Hogg, ALVA, FK12
Edward Kay, ABERDEEN, AB10
Adam Marshall, NOTTINGHAM, NG2
Andrew Marshall, DENNY, FK6
Alastair Moon, FALKIRK, FK4