FlowState Issue 7

SOUTH EAST FREESTYLE INTERVIEW • VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

NEW PERFORMANCE CORNER • CLUB SPOTLIGHT - BALTO KC

FLOW

ISSUE #7 MAY 2020

the official magazine of

GALWAY

3 days of white-water fun!

Event write up and interview

with the organizers

BRIDGE

Canoeing Irelands Women in

Sport development programme

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

On behalf of the Board of Canoeing Ireland, welcome to FLOWSTATE and the first edition of 2020. I hope that

you and your families are keeping well during these extraordinary and unprecedented times.

For Canoeing Ireland, the year started on a celebratory note with the second Annual Awards dinner in the

Lucan Spa Hotel. A well-attended evening brought together the paddling community to recognise the many

achievements of our members over the past year. Congratulations to all the award nominees, winners and to

everyone who helped make the event such a success.

What was unbeknown to us at that time was that sport throughout the world would soon come to an abrupt

halt and new government measures would restrict on-the-water and other activities. At this point in time, we

do not know when normal activity will resume. We are continually liaising with the relevant advisory bodies.

In consideration of scientific and public health advice and the recommendations necessary to contain

Covid-19, the Board of Canoeing Ireland has decided to postpone the 59th Annual General Meeting

scheduled for the end of April until a future date. We continue to review this situation in light of company and

constitutional obligations. Contingency plans are also being developed to hold the AGM through alternative

and compliant channels even if current constraints are still in place. The 2019 audited accounts have been

approved by the Board and will be published in advance of the AGM.

This year, is the third year of our three-year recovery strategy of Stabilization, Consolidation and Growth and

brings us up to the end of our current strategic plan. The Board and CEO have commenced the planning

process for our new strategic plan 2021-2023. This will be developed by and created for our paddling

community. The first phase is about information gathering, inclusive dialogue and review with our members,

clubs, disciplines and stakeholders. The final plan will present key strategic priorities that provide succinct

and clear direction with a unity of purpose for our members. We would encourage everyone to engage and

contribute to the development of the plan.

The Board continues to review and implement new initiatives to support and facilitate clubs. January 2021

will see the introduction of a standardised membership year. To facilitate the transfer to this new process,

membership fees will be charged at 50% from 1st July 2020. In conjunction, a new online club portal and

upgraded member’s database is close to finalisation and will be will soon rolled out to clubs on an incremental

basis. The review of the awards system is now complete and will be published shortly. A new licencing system

for instructors will be communicated in May 2020. Development Coaches for Sprint and Slalom have been

appointed as we continue to progress and roll out this model.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our

staff, committees and volunteers who continue to work from their homes to

keep Canoeing Ireland running as close to normality as is feasibly possible.

Canoeing Ireland asks all the paddling community to continue to adhere to

published health advice, but most of all, please stay safe.

B Oе

PRESIDENT

CONTENTS

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Interview with Nico Peschier 8

Liam Jegou Update 10

New Canoe Slalom Development Coach - Hannah Craig 18

Interview with Ciaran “Kipper” Maguire 34

Volunteer of the Year - Tom Egan 36

PADDLING NEWS

Southeast Freestyle 4

Polo Update 20

Canoe Slalom Update 21

Paddlesurf Update 22

Sprint Update 23

Life Lessons from Sport - Jenny Egan 24

Galway Fest Interview with Organisers 32

HIGH PERFORMANCE CORNER

Full Day of Eating with Eoin Teague 12

High Performance Strategy - Creating a Shared Vision for Success 13

Home Workout for Paddling 15

FLOWSTATE FOCUS

Bridge the Gap 6

Galway Fest 2020 28

Club Spotlight - Balto Kayak Club 37

ON THE COVER: Galway Fest - Full story on pg. 28

Photo credit: Jack Ledwith

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ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

SOUTHEAST

predominately to the UK. It's very hard for anyone to excel in

Ireland and internationally and keep paddlers in our sport

for the long term without the appropriate training facilities.

Should this happen Ireland can produce more world class

freestylers in the future.

What has been your biggest success with the group to

date? Either progression you’ve seen in the paddlers or

training days where you’ve seen big attendance, or

whatever else has been the highlight so far?

There have been lots of individual highlights for each

paddler, everyone has stepped up so much since starting.

As a group, the Southeast & EWWS development camp with

Quim Fontane was a huge success, there was so much

improvement and to be at the stage where we can bring over

international coaches is a big statement. Probably the

attitude of the group at Galwayfest this year was our

biggest highlight of the year. Everyone looked out for each

other and cheered each paddler on and just got on the

water as much as they could. The kids excitement was

contagious. There were pretty good results too. But I won't

mention them as we don't want them with their heads bigger

than they already are...

Any plans for SvouthEast Freestyle in the future?

Branching out into other provinces or keep a small

quality group? Go international?

We goin Worldwide...

No seriously. When the opportunity arises, we will open

ourselves up to lots more people around Ireland to join us

and create a bit of history.

Thank you very much for taking time to do this interview.

Thank you

Southeast Freestyle

Photography: Tom Clare

APRIL 2020 - INTERVIEW

weekend for the kids in KACC with help from Stephen

Happe and James O' Connor. That and the increasing

presence of the Kearney family turning up every chance

they got, The Southeast Freestyle Squad was formed.

We started training at Greensbridge Weir, which proved to

be a great training ground to work on the all of the basics

while still keeping us entertained. In the year since we

formed, we've stepped up to training in places like

Curragower and Tuam.

We introduced a second squad pretty recently that brought

our numbers up to around 15/16 but with some injuries,

mishaps and the amount of travelling involved we've got

consistently about 8/12 getting on the water with us.

What are your plans for this training group in Ireland?

How do you want to see it impact the freestyle scene in

Ireland? Both recreationally and competitively.

Our aim is to give juniors in Ireland a pathway within our

sport, to give all paddlers a better chance of success and

enjoyment on the water and to give them every opportunity

they can get. And hopefully give people an easier route to

seeing this as a sport for life.

So, at the moment a few things on our mind are that.

We are definitely looking to get some international

success for our athletes.

We want to see more girls in the sport, and we want to

give girls better opportunities to stay in the sport and

control the direction freestyle takes in Ireland.

We want to give more people in Ireland the opportunity

to train with Southeast freestyle like we currently do!

What prompted you to start SouthEast Freestyle? Was

there anything lacking in the freestyle scene in Ireland

that a training group like this could fill a gap?

Could you tell us a quick bit about SouthEast Freestyle?

Who is involved, where you train, and how many paddlers

are involved in the training group?

Hiya, Southeast Freestyle came together from a few

different areas within the southeast of Ireland, It was helped

along by the likes of Sheelagh Hennesy down in Clonmel

with some freestyle training days, Helped by the ever

vigilant Mick Butler. In Kilkenny a crew was forming already

with David McClure leading freestyle sessions every

I have been fortunate to have had great support right

though my paddling career and I was keen to give something

back to the sport. So, when Sheelagh asked me to get

involved, I jumped at the chance. I was surprised and

pleased at the level of interest and that encouraged me to

set up South East Freestyle.

Unfortunately, Freestyle in Ireland is largely a winter sport,

due to water levels and suitable natural features like Tuam. It

would be fantastic to get a freestyle feature in the proposed

White Water Centre in Dublin. This will reduce the cost of

training for the Irish Freestylers who have to travel,

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ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

BRIDGE

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE BRIDGE

THE GAP INITIATIVE?

Visibility

1. We aim to have 50% coverage of females across all our

social media platforms. The ambassadors are already

leading role models in their area and are key to driving this,

however we need all our members to promote females across

media more. They have committed where possible to make

themselves more visible both online and at events – you

can too!

2. We aim to highlight the number of women who attend each

event throughout the year – you can help us with this by

sending on the event numbers!

Coaching & Officiating

1. We aim to see a 20% increase in the number of women who

achieve coaching/instruction qualifications from 2019

figures by the end of 2021.

2. We also aim to record at least one female referee/judge at

each competition or event.

3. We aim to have 3 of our competitive disciplines have a

high-performance training camp for junior girls run in Ireland

with top coaches – if this works, we would have more of this

in the future for all disciplines!

Leadership & Governance

1. We aimed to and have achieved the development of our

Women’s Ambassadors group who have been working

together on how the future of our sport will grow to become

more inclusive for females. We have had 35 ambassadors

engage in a Leadership Training Programme where they

have developed their own leadership skills and have some

innovative ideas on how to make paddling more inclusive

for women.

2. We aim to have gender equity across all discipline sub

committees and our board of directors by the end of 2021.

3. The majority of ambassadors have committed to identifying

and guiding at least 2 females from their own paddling

community towards their leadership journey in a casual

Bridge the Gap is an initiative set out by Canoeing

Ireland and funded by Sport Ireland which aims to

develop and promote women in all paddlesports

across Ireland. To do this we have examined our 11

unique disciplines to find the areas which would

need the most attention in order to grow our female

participants numbers and grow the number of those

women who will take on leadership roles. The best

way to do this was to have a team of women to

consult who have expert knowledge of their niche

area. We have developed a group of 35

ambassadors for women’s paddling – with

representatives from each discipline and corner of

Ireland, including coaches, instructors, athletes,

committee members, clubs, providers, inclusion

coaches, university students and scouts.

If you have a suggestion or would like to discuss

some developments for women and girls – have a

look at your discipline’s ambassadors on our

website and don’t hesitate to get in touch. We would

love to hear about any projects you have been

working on or any women’s achievements or your

clubs!

mentoring role. We aim to host a networking event for all

those involved next year where they can learn about the

women in the wider community. This would aim to develop

female leaders and the community.

Active Participation

In 2020 (or 2021 depending on Covid-19 updates) we aim to have:

1. A minimum of 20 girls and 20 women’s only

introductory/intermediate courses run across Ireland. Please

let us know if you are running any!

2. 20 discipline specific ‘coaching clinics’ lead by women or lead

by men and attended by women.

3. Have at least 4 beginner friendly events run outside the Dublin

area to reach our rural communities.

4. Carry out research on ‘why women drop out of the sport and use

this to inform our members on future developments.

5. Run 5 regional workshops on sustainability for women in clubs.

6. Run 5 workshops on the fears associated with paddling as an

adventure sport and as a competitive sport.

7. Encourage the running of multi-disciplinary camps, courses,

programmes and events.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BRIDGE THE GAP?

1. The relationships between female leaders in our various disciplines is being developed in a positive and constructive way,

making it easier to develop the pathways between disciplines for women – and men!

2. There will be an increase in opportunities for females to attend coaching clinics, introductory courses and events for all

abilities – ultimately making all paddlesports more inclusive for women.

3. Our male and female members will have strong, visible female ambassadors as role models to look towards who are more

than happy to listen to their suggestions on growing women’s opportunities within their discipline in the future.

4. We know, and often celebrate the great achievements of women in our community but as in all sports – there is a need for

more noise to be made! We hope to see a change in our communities’ attitude towards women in paddlesports.

HOW WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BE ROLLED OUT?

1. Delivery of Leadership Training Programme for 35 ambassadors has taken place.

2. Projects have been discussed and developed to meet the aims of the initiative.

4. Ambassadors who are driving and organising projects will spread the word when projects are ready so you can get involved.

5. To have all of our members involved in promoting and developing opportunities for women – share what is going on with your clubs, friends

and fellow members! If you have an idea, let us know and we will see if we can make it happen!

6. Promote all of our female members and their achievements more – 50% of all coverage.

HOW CAN MEMBERS FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND GET INVOLVED?

This initiative is for everyone – we all want to see more women involved in all sports

across the board, but especially in the paddling community. It will take a nationwide

shift in attitude towards the way we involve women within our clubs, at competitions

and how we choose to acknowledge the fact that women can perform just as

well as men!

You can help and get involved by:

1. Showing her possibilities not impossibilities.

2. Encouraging her to attend more events and training – extend the invite!

3. Celebrating her achievements and helping her reflect on her attempts.

4. Showing her the various pathways in paddling – competitive or not.

5. Attending more events across the country – even try an open competition in

a different discipline!

6. Being more visible on Social Media Platforms, be a positive role model.

7. Showing her that she can be a leader too.

8. Use the hashtags: #bridgethegap #womeninsportIRE #20x20 when

posting online.

Currently the best place to keep up to date with any future developments is through

our Instagram page @bridgethegap_2020 – follow us to see what we are up to. This

information is then shared through the Canoeing Ireland Facebook and Instagram so

you can stay tuned to our media pages to find out more.

Words by: Emer Carton

Photo by: Marine Schmitt

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Photo by: Marine Schmitt

ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

Nico has had a fantastic career

representing France in the C1M category

of canoe slalom, racing at the 2004

Olympic Games in Athens, as well as

making countless finals and winning his

fair share of medals. Not content with this

Nico took the fight to the C2m category

and continued this same success. Now

after retiring from competition in 2013

Nico has come on board as Liam Jegou’s

coach, which has already seen the pairing

win a U23 World Championship bronze

medal, and qualify for the 2020/21 Tokyo

Olympic Games. We caught up with Nico

to talk about his own background in the

sport and see how Liams training is

progressing for Tokyo.

SPOTLIGHT

Could you tell us a quick bit about yourself? Hobbies

(like the climbing on Instagram), interests outside of

sport and why you like them, just to help us get to know

you.

Yes it's true that now I spend a lot of time climbing when I

have free time. I practiced a little between 10 and 14 years

old and then I came back to my base on the boat. My father

was double world champion in kayak slalom in 1969 so I've

always been on the edge of the river. Now that I don't

compete anymore I enjoy the environment in which I live in

Ardeche surrounded by nature with the river and climbing

less than 5min from my house :-) Otherwise when I'm not on

a training course I spend time with my family. I have a little

boy of almost 3 years old and another one who will arrive

soon.

What is your background in the sport of canoe slalom?

Career highlights? Best results? Style of paddling?

I started canoeing very early after doing a bit of kayaking but

at the age of 12 I switched to C1 so as not to be like my father

and brother. Then my first selection in the French junior

team at 15 years old during the 4 years of junior I finish

between the 5th and 6th place on the world and European

championships and we make some team medals.

Then it speeds up in 2004 when I get the 2nd place for the

Athens Games with Tony Estanguet. It was a great

experience but I was young and the following years were

hard to come back to a very good level. 2006 vice European

U23 champion and 2007 5th on a world cup and world

champion by team are a turning point in my career.

2009 and 2010 4th and 5th at the World Championships in

Seu and Tacen 2nd in the team World Championships in Seu

I was on almost all the finals but I didn't reach the podium.

Then in 2011, the C2 adventure began and I became vice

European champion and team world champion.

In C2 we missed the Olympic selections, we were

substitutes, and we won 3 World Cups that season and

became number 1 in the world in 2013, double European C2

champion.

After a little bit of C1 and C2 still missed the selection of the

Games but I finish 2nd in the world cup ranking in C1...

I stop in 2017 after not being selected for the team.

I had a very physical style and I've always had a lot of ease

with that. But I spent a lot of time playing in whitewater I don't

live very far from the town of St Maurice so since I was 13 I've

been sailing there in the summer.

How have you found working with Liam as an athlete?

What are his strengths and weaknesses? What is Liam

like to coach and race with?

The work took a long time to set up because as it is an

athlete who has had results he has character. So we had to

take time to explain to him and show him that it was better.

From that moment on it was easy, he is very voluntary and

motivated and doesn't back down from the pain and that's a

great advantage to become a great athlete.

His greatest strength is that he is a good technician and

that he likes to be on the water to train, his glide is good but

we had to change a little bit to make him more powerful. He

makes incredible stops. These weak points that we are

currently working on are his physique (he has been

progressing very, very well over the last year) and his mental

attitude because he always wants to do too well and is very

demanding.

How are preparations for Tokyo going? What are you

focussing on in training? What is going to give you the

best chance of giving a great performance at the Olympic

Games?

It's a bit difficult right now with the virus, but we organize

ourselves differently.

We've worked on his boat to make it better suited to him and

we're happy now we just have to finalise the form.

Then we work on the water and continue to paddle

aggressively and physically.

We hope to be able to continue working with a physio so that

he doesn't hurt himself.

And to be able to approach the games mentally fresh.

What are the plans for after Tokyo with training? Time

off? Or start building for the next season of racing? What

are the long term goals for Liams paddling?

Of course there will be some rest, personally I will have to

take advantage of my family that I won't have seen for a long

time!

Then we want to do the 3 remaining World Cups so we'll have

to re-mobilize to get results.

He is young and we have to take advantage of this to

accumulate races in view of the Paris Games because he will

really have a medal potential I think. So yes, we are already

thinking about Paris even before Tokyo, but whatever

happens in Tokyo, we have to anticipate what will happen

next.

Do you have any predictions for the Tokyo Olympic

Games in Canoe slalom? Who might be on the podium? Or

will there be any surprise performances? For K1 and C1.

In C1 I'm not going to make any predictions but I hope there

will be a surprise!

In K1M I will see Jiří Prskavec, Bradley Forbes and Haigner or

Llorente

K1W Funk, Fox or Tercel

C1W Fox and I don't know after...

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FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE ISSUE 7

LIAM JEGOU

In 2019 Liam had a dream season, winning an U23 World

championship bronze medal, and then later that year qualified for

the Tokyo Olympic Games. Liam also had the honour of being the

first athlete officially name for Team Ireland in the upcoming

Olympic Games. We got in touch with Liam at his base in Pau,

France, for an update on how his preparations for the Olympics are

going and how he is dealing with interruptions to his training while

on lockdown with COVID-19 restrictions.

HIGH

PERFORMANCE

After a tough race off for Olympic Selection, myself and my coach Nico planned out

what the next 9 months leading up to the Olympics would look like. 2019 had been a

long and gruelling season so after the British open I needed some time off to

recharge before diving into Olympic preparations.

Our first training camp of four planned in Tokyo leading into the games was scheduled

in November. Paddling for the first time in Tokyo was a great experience, it was the

best possible way to get started with winter training. I'm very happy with the progress

I've made over the winter. The S&C work we've put in place since November of 2018 is

starting to pay off and the coaching I've gotten with Nico is still going in the right

direction. In February I had the opportunity to go and train in Al-Ain with him for a

fortnight, it was an intense two weeks of training and a welcomed break from the cold

winter sessions. Preparations were going well, and my excitement was growing with

the first races of the season fast approaching.

The idea that COVID-19 could be the cause of the cancelation of the first half of the

season let alone the Olympics seemed impossible at that time. Training wasn't

disrupted in any way despite more cases being confirmed in the North East of France,

it all seemed so far away.

On the 15 of March, I was supposed to race the ICF World Ranking race in Huningue

on the border with Switzerland. The day before flying out, the organisation canceled

the event due to government restrictions. This would be the first of many races

unscheduled and governmental restrictions put in place. Shortly after this, training

venues started to close their doors before what we had all been anticipating arrived, a

total lockdown of the country much like what happened in Italy 10 days before.

With the IOC pushing to go ahead with the games starting on the 24th of July, we

needed to figure out how I could train correctly while staying at home for an

undetermined amount of time.

My training in the gym for the past year and a half has mainly revolved around

developing max power on the Bench Press and on Pull-Ups so having no access to

weights I've had to focus on bodyweight exercises. From the beginning of this

lockdown, I've decided that I would see this as an opportunity to improve and learn

some new bodyweight skills that I might not have worked on had this not happened.

I've been working on my L sit to Handstand, one-arm push-ups, one-arm pull-ups and

other exercises of the sort. I've also been doing circuits to maintain some cardio work.

Recently I’ve started working with a sport Psych. I've been doing quite a bit of

visualisation work which has been interesting. I'll watch a World Cup final and then do

the course myself in my head or I'll picture a session working on a specific technical

move. It's been interesting to do. It's something I do on race days but that I don't

practice enough outside of training.

These small goals have kept me motivated for the past two weeks and seeing the

progress I'm making is a lot of fun!

Right now nobody knows what the season is going to look like. Euros have been

canceled but the rest of the season remains scheduled at this moment in time

although it seems highly unlikely that World Cup 1 and 2 located in Ivrea and France

will go ahead in June. The second half of the season starts at the end of August in

Liptovsky so that's what I'm basing my preparation on this year. The fact that the

games have now been pushed back to next year comes as a relief. The way I see it is

that I have an extra year to improve for the big one!

Words by: Liam Jegou

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CORNER

HIGH PERFORMANCE

CORNER

With the Olympic games just around the corner we at Canoeing

Ireland are hoping to get everyone into the Olympic Spirit. Our new

Performance corner of the Flowstate magazine is aimed at giving

everyone a boost to their performance, whether that’s a faster sprint,

a better upsteam, or just being able to spend a little bit longer on the

river on the weekend. Hopefully there’ll be something for everyone to

take away and step up their paddling.

HIGH PERFORMANCE STRATEGY

FULL DAY OF EATING

My initial plan was to record this around a day training in my usual

base of Nottingham with a tough morning session on the water

and a heavy afternoon gym. However, considering the unsettling

and unnerving COVID 19 crisis resulting in the need for

self-isolating, I’ve decided to base article around what I’m eating

and training I’m doing in self-isolation to maintain as much

fitness and all round health as I can. So here’s what I’m doing and

eating to stay on track while I do my part to slow the spread of

COVID 19.

MEAL 1:

• Porridge Oats 70g - big feed of carbs to have energy

for the session

• Semi-skimmed milk 140ml roughly 2-1 ratio (liquid to oats)

• 2 egg whites (getting some extra protein)

Toppings

• Milled seed mix chia, pumpkin, sesame and flax

• Skyr-high protein and low fat

• Blueberries and Banana-Nutrients and antioxidants

I cook my porridge in my pan alternatively you can make them

overnight for convenience just adjust your liquid to oat ratio to 1-1

and add your yogurt. Some toppings don’t do well in the fridge

overnight so I always add them fresh in the morning. Please just

don’t microwave your oats, its disrespectful to porridge

SESSION 1:

The majority of my training is all based at home at the moment,

occasionally I’m still going for a run or paddling on my own early

and keeping a safe distance from people but I am making an effort

to avoid going out. I’m fortunate enough to have a few bits and

pieces lying about the house that makes the training a little easier,

such as resistance bands, some dumbbells and a spin bike. Saying

that this is a great opportunity to get creative in your training and

try new things. Also a disclaimer I am in no way qualified in any

capacity and I know very little other than what works for me. I’m

basing my training mainly around resistance and bodyweight

exercises, metcons and some conditioning on the bike.

So here’s my first session of the day

• Warm up- mobility and dynamic stretching followed by some

activation exercises and skipping to get the heart rate up and

body ready for the pounding it’s about to take

• Resistance/Bodyweight

o 4 sets Leg banded squats x lunges the length of the

garden (about 40m)

o 4 sets press-ups with resistance

o Pull ups (great functional paddling movement)

o 4 sets 12 reps Pike press-ups

o Bent over row

• Core circuit

o 20 crunches

o 20 deadbugs with dumbbell

o 20 Russian twists

o 4 times about a minutes rest between

• Conditioning-on the stationary bike

o 8x40seconds on 80 seconds off

MEAL 2:

After a big session like that you have to refuel properly, that

doesn’t mean smashing a massive load of chicken rice and

broccoli and downing a protein shake within 5 minutes of training,

but it is vital to eat high quality food after your training.

2 Poached eggs on sourdough with fried spinach, cherry

tomatoes and mushrooms in some olive oil and chilli flakes

And a protein shake despite what I said above.

MEAL 3:

Veg and Barley soup- more carbohydrates and extremely

nutrient dense

SESSION 2:

5km time trial- work on the aerobic fitness and great to get some

fresh air. Doing a loop within 2k from home.

MEAL 4:

Recovery carbs. This one happened to some scones with jam and

a coffee.

MEAL 5:

Chickpea Curry (Vegan)

Onion/chilli seeds/Chickpeas/Olive oil/Fresh ginger, garlic,

turmeric/toasted coriander, black mustard and cumin seeds

ground up/coconut milk/tomato puree/fresh cherry tomatoes

With white rice

Very healthy and ethical

No one could foresee the current circumstance that we are all now facing. In January of this year, no one could foresee that

the 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed until 2021. These really are unprecedented times. The postponing of the

Games highlighted the significant global challenges that faced international sport in the face of this COVID-19 crisis. If we,

as a global community, continue to fight together against this pandemic, normal life should return sooner, rather than later.

Time will tell.

As the Games shifted a full 12 months into the new year, another

sporting milestone may have become lost in the chaos. That

milestone, however, will not be lost on those athletes who are

entering into the u23 and senior ranks of canoe sport for the first

time, or those established athletes who have more goals to fulfil.

The famous four-year cycle, synonymous with the Olympic Games

has just turned a new page and we are now heading into general

preparation for the Paris cycle which culminates with the Games

in 2024.

Qualifying for Paris 2024 is a target and like any target, a sport

needs to have a direction and shared vision to achieve it. A

proposal for that direction and vision was created in the new

Canoeing Ireland High Performance strategy- “Pathway to

Performance – Paris 2024 and Beyond”. The strategy is an

honest appraisal of Canoeing Ireland’s High Performance

strategic and operational capacity. It outlines important areas of

work that are needed to bring Canoeing Ireland into line with

defined best practice in sport. It offers the idea of a shared vision

for all of us involved in canoeing; paddler, club member, committee

member and staff. That vision can be summarised as being –

Canoeing Ireland, One Team. One Goal. No excuses.

For canoe sport in Ireland to reach its potential, our athletes need

unity, cohesion and a shared vision from the leadership down and

from the grassroots up. Without it, we remain as crabs in the

proverbial barrel.

Sport Ireland High Performance funding is governed by several

principles; direction and strategy, governance and oversight,

intention, culture, talent profile and execution. Now more than

ever, we need a shared vision and a common understanding of

where we want to be come 2024. Anyone who is truly passionate

about canoe sport will want to see Irish boats at the next Olympic

Games. That is our starting point and the work needs to starts

now.

In order to achieve our shared vision we need to address the

following:

• Are we ready to work with and support the new High

Performance structures?

• Can we agree to cooperate on a shared direction, values

and vision?

• Can we work together to improve our systems, processes

and programmes?

• Can we agree to look forward together as one team

regardless of discipline?

Having witnessed the passion from those working within canoe

sport in Ireland; I believe the answers would be a resounding yes.

Pathway to Performance – Paris 2024 and Beyond offers us a

framework to guide discussions and even though the present

circumstances relating to the COVID-19 has put the kybosh on

12

490

370

307

HIGH PERFORMANCE GRANT ALLOCATIONS

A WATERSPORTS COMPARISON

857

555

410

635

443 450

275

250

602

550 553

430

190

129

643 645

380 380

702

476

565

234

635

400

735 735

525 525

50 50

65 65 65

40 40

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

800

625

50

HOME WORKOUT

HIGH PERFORMANCE

CORNER

Jenny Egan gives us an insight into core

strengthening and shoulder strengthening

exercise, which you can do from your home to

improve your paddling performance. Jenny is

an Irish Sprint and Marathon Canoeist who is

a Multiple World Cup Medallist, Multiple

World Championship Medallist and European

Championship Medallist. Jenny also has a

Bachelor of Science First Class Honours

Degree in Athletic Therapy and Training from

Dublin City University.


CANOE ROW SAIL

further consultation taking place, we can start to think about what we as individuals can bring to the table. Without this critical engagement

and the development of a shared vision, a strategy remains an aspiration and the culture that drives High Performance remains out of our

reach.

The High Performance strategy has identified strengths and weaknesses in our performance structures. It proposes new governance

systems and has placed strategic oversight with a new performance committee (HPU). The strategy also proposes implementing new talent

development models, the work around which has already started with the recruitment of two experienced Talent Development Coaches for

canoe slalom and sprint. The strategy further proposes some performance targets for 2022 and for 2024, and while performance targets

remain fluid at this time it is a necessity that an operational programme is established that becomes the engine driving the accomplishment

of our strategic objectives.

Across sport, the objectives attached to a high performance programme share

common ground; to improve international performances and to target finals and

podium finishes at elite level. Such objectives aren’t met overnight. The

development of a high performance programme relies heavily on reliable analysis

of the current talent pool within canoe sport in Ireland. Reliable performance

prediction models will need to be developed that allow an objective and

reliable analysis of an athlete’s trajectory. Sport and performance science

support will be required on a number of levels such as, i) determining an

athlete’s performance capacity ii) creating specific training

programmes and iii) the monitoring and the evaluation of such

programmes. Such interventions are crucial to the future direction

of high performance funding and investment.

CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

The plank is an isometric core strengthening exercise, it is also an important exercise for increasing

shoulder strength and stability. The length in which you hold the plank for depends on your ability. You can

start off by holding it for 15 seconds and working your way up to 1-2 mins.

PLANK

Begin with 15 seconds and work your way up to 1-2 mins on, 30

secs off, completing 3 sets.

Start on the floor on your hands and knees. Place your

forearms on the floor with elbows aligned below shoulders and

your arms shoulder width apart parallel with your body, making

a fist with your hands. Step your feet back one at a time, hip

distance apart. Keep your neck and spine in a neutral position

by looking at a spot on the floor just in front of your hands.

Tighten your abs, glutes and quads and hold.

So, what is next? The foundations have been laid and those

foundations offer some scope for further discussions.

Regardless of what is agreed or not, it is worth considering

the words of Peter Drucker– “culture eats strategy for

breakfast”.

With a shared vision, collaboration and support and

a lot of hard work we are confident that our

strategic goals, while ambitious, are within our

grasp.

LEFT SIDE PLANK



Start on the floor lying on your left side, both legs straight out

in a line with your right foot on top of your left foot. Place your

left forearm flat on the floor with the elbow under your

shoulder. Engage your core while lifting your hips up off the

floor, keeping a straight line from your head to your feet with

your right hand on your right hip and hold for desired time.

Words by: Jenny Egan

Words by: Jon Mackey

15

HIGH PERFORMANCE

CORNER

GLUTE BRIDGE

Begin with 5 reps and progress to 15 reps, completing 3

sets.

CRUNCHES


sets.

RIGHT SIDE PLANK



Start on the floor lying on your right side, both legs straight out

in a line with your left foot on top of your right foot. Place your

right forearm flat on the floor with the elbow under your

shoulder. Engage your core while lifting your hips up off the

floor, keeping a straight line from your head to your feet with

your left hand on your left hip and hold for desired time.

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on

the floor. Drive through your heels, contracting your glutes

sending your hips up towards the ceiling. Your body should

be in a straight line from your shoulders to your knees.

Slowly lower your back down and repeat.

Lie on the floor on your back with your knees bent and your

feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind your head so

that your thumbs are behind your ears. Hold your elbows

out to the sides and rounded slightly inwards. Lift your

shoulders off the floor while contracting your abs and

exhaling. Hold for 1-2 seconds at the top of the movement,

then inhale and slowly lower back down.

HOLLOW HOLD

Begin the hold for 10 seconds and work your way up to 30

seconds, completing 3 sets.

Lie flat on your back, pull your belly button towards the floor

contracting your abs. Your arms and legs should be held out

straight with your hands and toes pointed. Slowly raise your

shoulders and legs at the same time from the ground.

SITTING ROTATIONS WITH MEDICINE BALL

LEG RAISES

ALTERNATE HEEL TOUCHES

Begin with 6 reps (3 reps counting one side) and work your

way up to 20 reps (10 reps counting one side), completing

3 sets.

Lie flat on your back, bend at your midsection while

keeping your arms straight or with a slight bend and reach

until you can touch your heel.

SUPERMAN

Begin with 5 reps, holding for 5 seconds and progress to 15

reps holding for 10 seconds, completing 3 sets.

Lie face down on a flat surface, with your arms out straight,

raise your hands and legs 4-5 inches off the ground and

hold for 5 seconds and return to your starting position.


sets. The medicine ball weight can also be increased

(medicine balls are available in different weights), but

always maintain correct technique.

Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you, your knees

bent at a 45-degree angle and your feet against the wall.

Place your arms in front of your chest with your elbows

bent holding a medicine ball with both hands. Rotate your

torso to the right and at the same time push your right leg

down. Then rotate to the left pushing your left leg down.

Continue alternating sides.


sets.

Lie on your back on the floor with your legs extended.

Place your hands underneath your lower back and glutes

so that your pelvis is supported. Keeping your legs straight

raise them off the floor towards the ceiling keeping your

thighs close together. Lift your legs until your hips are fully

flexed keeping your back on the floor, then lower your legs

back down and repeat.

16

NEW CANOE SLALOM

Coronavirus

COVID-19

Coronavirus

COVID-19

Public Health

Advice

Everyone stay at home.

Everyone has the power to Stop COVID-19.

HANNAH CRAIG

Canoeing Ireland would like to welcome Olympian, Hannah Craig to our coaching team. Hannah will be

taking up the role of Talent Development Coach for canoe slalom. Hannah brings a wealth of

experience to the role and we look forward to working with her as we set our path towards Paris in

2024 and LA in 2028.

Hannah’s passion for the sport of canoe slalom is very evident. When asked about her new role with

Canoeing Ireland, she had a very typical “Hannah style” response!

“Water is where I am meant to be…

Whitewater in sight, the fascination ignites.

Add a few challenges and the spraydeck is on.

Paddle in hand I come alive.

A bit of craic and I just keep coming back…

Day after day for over 20 years.

Thrill, skill, challenge, nature and incredible people

are at the core of my lifelong passion: paddling.

Canoe slalom is the discipline that took me on most

journeys. From simple beginnings: chasing a few poles on

a flat stretch of water; to the biggest sporting stage:

performing at the Olympics on one of the most incredible

whitewater courses in the world. With many chapters,

twists and turns both on and off the water, I am very

excited and privileged to add a new one…

In parallel with my preparation as an athlete towards Tokyo

2020 +1, I am taking on the canoe slalom performance

development coach role within Canoeing Ireland.

As a coach, I aim to ignite that lifelong passion in younger

generations that once passed on to me. I aspire to

creating an environment where young athletes feel safe,

valued, fulfilled with a large dose of fun and focus.

I can’t wait within my new role to build a national

performance development programme and sustainable

training setups all around Ireland with the support of our

valuable volunteers, clubs, parents, existing and aspiring

young paddlers.

A boat, a paddle, drive and a lot of enthusiasm will take you

on many a worthwhile journey, believe me! May the

dreams begin…”

We are absolutely delighted to have Hannah on board the

team going forward into the next Olympic cycles, and are

sure she will bring a massive amount of passion for the

sport to the role. As Hannah has done in the past, she will

surely pass this passion on to a new generation of slalom

paddlers, and with the experience Hannah can pass on, a

new generation of Olympians.

Stay at home in all

circumstances, EXCEPT:

> Travel to and from work where your work

is an essential service. See gov.ie

> To shop for essential food and

household goods

> To attend medical appointments and

collect medicines

> For vital family reasons including caring for

children, older or vulnerable people or

someone who is cocooning but excluding

social family visits

> To take exercise within 2km of your home.

You may include children from your

household but MUST adhere to 2m

physical distancing from other people.

Cocooning has been introduced for those

over 70 years and those who are extremely

medically vulnerable to COVID-19. You can

hse.ie.

Remember, you cannot arrange a gathering

with anybody you do not live with.

If you have symptoms, self-isolate to protect

others and phone your GP.

For information and advice visit hse.ie or

phone HSELive 1850 24 1850

For Daily Updates Visit

www.gov.ie/health-covid-19

www.hse.ie

How to Prevent

Stop

shaking hands

or hugging when

saying hello or

greeting other

people

Cover

your mouth and

nose with a tissue

or sleeve when

coughing or

sneezing and

discard used tissue

Symptoms

Distance

yourself at least

2 metres (6 feet)

away from other

people, especially

those who might be

unwell

Avoid

touching eyes, nose,

or mouth with

unwashed hands

Wash

your hands well

and often to avoid

contamination

Clean

and disinfect

frequently touched

objects and surfaces

> Fever (High Temperature) > A Cough > Shortness of Breath

18 4

Ireland is operating a delay strategy in line with WHO and ECDC advice

POLO update

CANOE SLALOM

SQUADS

The U21 male and female squad trials were held in February. Both squads will be

attending several European competitions over the summer in the build up to the ICF

World Polo competition planned for September in Rome.

--------------------

COMPETITIONS

Irish College/University Polo Competition

The Irish College/University Polo competition has returned after a very successful first year and is looking to improve on

that success. It is open to any currently registered college students and any alumni of the club within a four-year grace

period. Paddlers of all competence levels are welcomed and encouraged to take part.

Hosted at the Let’s Go Hydro in the Knockbracken reservoir in Carryduff, Belfast there is ample accommodation as well

as food on site. Access to a marquee down by the pitches both Friday and Saturday night will host the evenings updates

and entertainment.

https://www.facebook.com/ICUPs-104320184333683

--------------------

MAHON CUP

This competition is to promote the participation of females within canoe polo. It will be held at Kilcock Harbour as soon as

circumstances permit. Hopefully early this summer.

There will be a ‘Come Try It’ session for paddlers in the morning and a formal league Competition in the afternoon. Players

can do both sessions if of sufficient standard.

All proceeds will be donated to The Cuisle Cancer Support Centre.

You may have some Canoe Polo experience, be a bit rusty, or have no experience at all … you just need to be able to paddle

forwards and backwards – we will provide all equipment, an introduction to the sport and find you a suitable team based on

your age and skill level for the morning session. All ages are invited.

https://canoepolo.ie/events/mahoncup2020/

--------------------

CLUB CHAMPS

The Club Championships this year is planned to take place at Mullingar Harbour in July 2020, circumstances permitting.

This competition decides what club teams from Ireland become eligible to play at the European Club Championships in

St. Omer in October 2020.

A lovely central location Mullingar Harbour is located just outside the town and has hosted Overload a junior polo event

the last 2 years.

--------------------

OVERLOAD

The junior paddle event is back again at Mullingar Harbour August 2020. The event is open to Canoe Polo players aged

8-18 and will be packed with Canoe Polo activities – skills, drills, games, races, more games, rolling clinic, paddling clinic,

barbecues, burgers, hot dogs, dog races (not the same dogs), canoe polo with obstacles, and some other entertaining

activities. Parents need not be bored either as organisers plan to build on last years ‘bluffers guide’ and provide a session

that explains more about the game, how it works, what have can-openers and tu-tus got to do with Canoe Polo? This will

be a little more ‘interactive’ than last years session, so bring comfy clothes to have some fun!

--------------------

IRISH OPEN

The annual Irish Open will be held in August in Let’s Go Hydro in the Knockbracken reservoir in Carryduff, Belfast. This

event sees local teams competing against each other as well as against some teams from other European countries. This

mix of stiff competition as well as the excellent viewing platforms available at the venue make for an entertaining watch.

COVID 19 RESPONSE

UPDATE

2020 was setting up to be a rollercoaster of a year for canoe slalom, with Olympic

qualification spots still up for grabs at the European Championships, and Liam Jegou

Qualified for the Olympic Games, and well into his training for the race. This all unfortunately

has been all put on hold following the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. While it is

disappointing that the season is effectively on hold until further notice we are fully confident

that it is the best course of action for the safety of our athletes and the wider public. In

response to the restrictions all national squad activity is suspended, and all our athletes are

adhering to the government restrictions.

On the domestic side we are keeping hope alive, while none of our planned events are going

ahead for the foreseeable future, we are taking the stance that these events are merely

postponed, and will be held still later in the year when normality is returned. With events such

as the 10th annual Irish Open, still expected to be run.

On the international side the most notable revelation is the postponement of the 2020

Tokyo Olympic Games until 2021. Again, we feel this is the right choice for public health, and it

will only give our newest Olympian, Liam Jegou, more time to prepare. Earlier this year Liam

also had the honour of being the first athlete officially named for Team Ireland for the Tokyo

Olympic Games. Initially many of Liams training camps in Tokyo over the next months were

cancelled, which progressed into the postponement of the Games themselves. While a

difficult decision this will give Liam, currently on lockdown in France, the best run in to the

Games, giving him time to train on the course in Tokyo and put him in the best position to give

his best performance.

However, the event cancellations also struck the European Championships, scheduled for

mid-May in London. This event was the final continental qualifier for the Tokyo Games, and its

cancellation has thrown up many questions for our K1M, Eoin Teague, Noel Hendrick and Ali

McCreery and K1W Hannah Craig, hoping to achieve qualification at this event. The ICF have

yet to cancel any other events, with the rest of the season being reviewed as the situation

develops.

The athletes themselves are staying focussed, keeping training as best they can while

restricted at home, with plenty of creative solutions being displayed to keep fit. Many of our

athletes who were training abroad have returned home, in reaction to the lockdowns being

enforced to slow the spread of this virus.

20 21

The winter season in Ireland provided great surf for all the

paddlesurf athletes to enjoy surfing outside the lines of

competitions. Te Paddlesurf season was due to kick off in March

with the First Ranking Competition of the year. But like all sport this

was cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid 19 in Ireland. This will

also affect the Development Squad meet in April and Ranking Comp

2 at the Start of May. In terms of International Competition, the

World the Wave Ski Championships have been postponed until

2021. In Surf Kayaking the Home Internationals is set to take place

in October so we will wait and see does this competition go ahead.

For the domestic calendar we will wait and see how the current

situation develops. Once it is safe to do so we will have the events

back on.

PADDLESURF

UPDATE

With the current restriction this has certainly put a curve ball on all

our plans. But as Paddlesurf athletes we are well used to adapting

to changes in conditions in the ocean. We have applied this to the

current situation and have adapted our training plans. As a team we

have a strength and conditioning program that we now do at home.

Also, we have all added in a lot more cardio in now running and biking

within the 2km limit.

Women’s Junior World Champion Megan has been working on her

visualisation skills for riding the barrel in her garden. Sean has taken

the time to get his new kayak all outfitted. It very important to take

the time to outfit your boat correctly. This will ensure you are

comfortable and in full control over your surf kayak.

One of the questions we get asked the most is what is Paddlesurf

and how does it work. Due to this we thought with the current

climate it would be a great opportunity to share safety, craft and

surfing information and tips on Facebook and Instagram. Head on

over to the Paddlesurf Facebook and Instagram to keep updated.

Safe stay everyone.

SPRINT UPDATE

THE JUNIOR 5K SERIES

The 2020 Junior 5k series was one full of it’s challenges with the continuous weekends of storms,

and then the beginning of what is now an pandemic with the Coronavirus. Never the less the juniors

where out in force and another great series was achieved, with also a demand for an U23 class for

the first time in a few years. But sadly due to storm Dennis and then continuing strong winds one of

the time trial events to be held at Celbridge was cancelled for concern over safety for the younger

paddlers. So for this series the first weekend of racing started at Salmon Leap CC and then followed

by the only time trial part of the series at Celbridge paddlers. With the last points decided for the

series at Salmon Leap CC. Then afterwards the exciting prizes which were supported by Jantex

paddles and Nelo were presented. Throughout the series there was some great racing and some new

personal bests were also achieved by our junior competitors. Finally I want to finish off by saying a

huge thanks to everyone who attended but a special thank you to the committees of Salmon Leap

CC and Celbridge paddlers for the help and continued support of the series.

The podium finishers are listed below:.

U23 BOYS

Ronan Foley SLCC

Matthew McCartney CPCC

Alex O’Brien CPCC

U16 BOYS

Paul Donnelan SLCC

Ben Higgins SLCC

Sean King CPCC

U14 GIRLS

Jennifer Guest SLCC

U18 BOYS

Evan O’Keefe CPCC

Ben Smith SLCC

Darragh Thomas SLCC

U16 GIRLS

Eabha Ni Drisceoil SLCC

Niamh Caffery SLCC

Kate O’Halloran SLCC

2.5K JUNIOR BOYS

Dylan O’Sullivan SLCC

U18 GIRLS

Ashla Copeland SLCC

Caitriona McGonnigle SLCC

Eabha Murray SLCC

U14 BOYS

Sean Durkan SLCC

Liam Boland SLCC

Connor Donnellan SLCC

Fastest time trophy (Awarded to the fastest Junior from time trial series)

JUNIOR BOY

Evan O’Keefe

JUNIOR GIRL

Eabha Ni Drisceoil SLCC

For more information of the Junior 5K Series with results and photos check out the Facebook page.

22 23

ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

LIFE LESSONS

2. Time Management: ‘Work smarter, not longer, when pressures are high and time is tight’

My parents have always emphasised the importance of having a balance in life, education, sport and time with family and

friends. During school and university, I had to deal with both academic and sporting pressures, so my time had to be well

planned and managed. My Leaving Certificate year was very hectic but I knew if I planned my training and studying times, I

could achieve both my academic and sporting goals. I was very focused, I trained before school at 7am and straight after

school at 4pm to then go home, have dinner, do my homework, study and get some sleep for the next day of training and

school. Thankfully, my time management skills paid off, as I became the first International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior

Female Marathon World Cup medallist winning a silver medal and the first ICF Junior Female Marathon World

Championship medallist winning a bronze medal for Ireland, at the same time as achieving good results in my Leaving

Certificate and being accepted into Dublin City University to study a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Athletic

Therapy and Training alongside receiving a sports scholarship.

3. Resilience: ‘Get back on that horse’.

Photography: Mick Feeney

Jenny Egan chats about 10 life lessons that sport has taught her. Jenny is currently ranked Number

1 in the World in the ICF Senior Women's K1 5000m event. In 2019, Jenny won her fourth Irish Times

and Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month Award.

1. Passion: ‘We need all our passion to achieve our full potential’

For me the most important life lesson I have learned from my sport is passion, as without passion you cannot have the

other qualities which you need to succeed in sport and all walks of life. Passion is what sustains us in everything we do. My

passion for my sport started at an early age, as both my parents Angie and Tom Egan were canoeists since they were

teenagers and they are also members of Salmon Leap Canoe Club. My brother Peter Egan is also an international canoeist

and when I was growing up, he was and still is one of my greatest role models, as I always wanted to follow in his footsteps

and he helped me greatly in doing so.

‘My Mum says I was in a boat before I was born, as she paddled when she was pregnant with me’. I first sat in a boat on my

own when I was 3 years old and I competed in my first race at The National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont,

Nottingham, England when I was 8 years old. I became British National Sprint Champion Under 14 and British National

Marathon Champion Under 14. When I was younger, I did many activities, my Mum was bringing me to many classes after

school; dance and drama, singing, violin and I also played many different sports throughout the years. But when I was 15

years of age, I decided that canoeing was what I wanted to focus on, as it was and still is my passion. I am extremely

competitive and I love the feeling when everything works in unison for me to produce the best races.

In all walks of life, be it sport, work or family life we need resilience. I know myself if I had fallen at the first hurdle and never

tried again I would never have achieved all I have; Irelands’ only athlete male or female to win an ICF Senior Canoe Sprint

World Championship medal as well as ICF Senior Canoe Sprint World Cup medals and a Senior Canoe Sprint European

Championship medal. In addition to this, I am an ICF Senior and Junior Canoe Marathon World Championship medallist

and an ICF Senior and Junior Canoe Marathon World Cup medallist. To top this all off, in 2019 I achieved another big goal

of mine by finishing the sprint competition season ranked Number 1 in the World in the Senior Women’s K1 5000m event.

The transition from racing as a Junior to racing as a Senior is a big step which required resilience, persistence and

commitment. It took 5 years for me to win a Senior World Cup medal, winning a silver medal in the Women’s K1 5000m

event in Szeged, Hungary in 2010. This was Ireland’s first ever medal at an ICF Senior Canoe Sprint World Cup.

I am very lucky that my parents embedded this quality in me, they taught me to never give up and to keep striving to be the

best even though there might be some speed bumps along the way both in my sporting and academic careers. I am very

thankful to them for this direction in life, as by having resilience I was able to combine third level education and competing

on the world stage. I am also very lucky to have had the support of Salmon Leap Canoe Club, Canoeing Ireland, Sport

Ireland, the Institute of Sport, Olympic Federation of Ireland and Dublin City University allowing me to study part-time and

to achieve both in my academic and sporting careers. I graduated in 2013 from Dublin City University with a Bachelor of

Science First Class Honours Degree in Athletic Therapy and Training and I also won the Research Achievement Award for

my final year Thesis “The Effects of Acute Intermittent Normobaric Hypoxic Exposure on a Range of Physiological

Parameters”.

4. Failure: ‘First attempt in learning’

One does not fail; one’s failure is their first attempt in learning. The competitions in which I have not achieved my goals

have been the ones that have been crucial to my future success. I have learned from these competitions, my weaknesses

and what I need to concentrate on in order to be the best athlete I can be. When I do not achieve my goals, I talk to my

coaches both my brother Peter and my Fiancé Jonathan Simmons, in order to tailor my training programme so that it

focuses on the areas in which I need to improve. Failure occurs in all aspects of life and it is how we deal with these failures

that determines our future success.

24 25

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE ISSUE 7 ISSUE 7 FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

5. Dedication: ‘If you really want to achieve something you will find a way’

9. Teamwork: ‘Always working together’

My training programme consists of 14-16 sessions per week in order to achieve the best results possible during my

sporting career. My training consists of on the water sessions, strength and conditioning in the gym and running. Being

dedicated to my sport is not just about the training I complete, it is also about the recovery that I have in between training;

staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet and sleeping in order to maximise adaptation to the training stimulus. It is

extremely physical and intense, placing high demands on my body. Therefore, I need to recover to the best of my ability and

be dedicated not only to the training sessions but to my recovery also, for me to achieve at the highest level in my sport.

Although I am not part of a team sport, it is highly important that I am able to work with a team. Communication is key to

good team work, I have learned from both my sporting and academic careers so far, that when I have communicated with

my support team, we have had a much better understanding of the daily demands of my schedule and we have been able

to work around that to make it successful for us all. It’s important to remember that your support team are there to help you

to be the best you can be and that this happens by working as a team.

6. Believe: ‘You will be unstoppable if you believe in yourself’

Self-belief is something we need to always work on and sometimes it can be difficult in certain scenarios. My self-belief

has been built by surrounding myself with positive people in my life. Sport has taught me how to believe in myself during

times of high pressure. It has taught me to turn a negative thought into a positive thought, building self-belief, striving to

be the best version of ‘me’ in all walks of life. I believe in myself and this has been a major contributing factor for me

achieving on the world stage.

7. Consistency: ‘The key to success’

In order to achieve consistent sporting performances, it is essential to have a consistent balance in life: consistent

training, consistent everyday life, consistent mentality and consistent preparation. I make sure that my training sessions

are as consistent as possible, working hard and smart in every session. My life must also be consistent, eating nutritional

food, getting adequate recovery, having good sleeping patterns, making sure I am on top of my studies/work and having

great relationships with my family and friends, as if I am not happy I will not be able to prepare correctly and I will be

distracted. Consistent mentality is also essential, I must have self-belief and trust in my support team and I also use

mental imagery to help me to perform to the best of my ability. Lastly, it is highly important to have consistent preparation,

I always have a preparation routine which I do before each competition, this installs confidence and helps to manage

nervous energy, both on the days leading up to the competition and on the competition days.

10. Fun: ‘Enjoy the journey’

Having fun is essential to success, throughout the years I have learned to not solely focus on the outcome but to enjoy the

journey along the way. Sport has given me so many opportunities throughout my life so far and I am very honoured to be an

ambassador for my sport and the only athlete representative on the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Steering Committee; a

task force established to provide strategic and practical advice to enhance the delivery, recognition, promotion and

development of participation and leadership opportunities for women and the wider area of inclusion. The Sport Ireland

Women in Sport Policy aims to improve four main target areas of women in sport: Coaching and Officiating, Active

Participation, Leadership and Governance and Visibility. This policy highlights that there is a place for everyone in sport

and that you don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy sport.

I am extremely passionate about increasing visibility of women in sport and I think it is our responsibility as athletes to

prioritise being visible to girls and boys to see what we have achieved and hopefully, it will inspire them to achieve to the

best of their ability both nationally and internationally while having fun and enjoying their journey. I am also very proud to be

one of only 20 female athletes selected to represent the 20x20 Campaign for 2020. It is such an exciting time for women

in sport and all these opportunities along with training and competing have given me a great balance in life and I am having

a lot of fun on this amazing journey.

8. Patience: ‘Trust the process’

Sport has taught me to have patience, the results which I have achieved have not happened overnight, they are from years

of dedication and hard work with many bumps in the road along the way. It is important to always trust yourself, your support

team and the process. I have learned as an athlete that if I focus on the process by having short-term goals, I will achieve

my long-term goals. I have gained the most knowledge from my sport during this process and I have been able to carry this

knowledge over to help the other aspects of my life.

26

FLOW

COVER STORY

GALWAY FEST

Galway Fest’s 9th anniversary was another one to

remember. What a start to the event with a sell out

registration of 250 tickets in just under 6 hours!

Photography: Jack Ledwith

Words by: Aoife Hanrahan & Bradley Skidmore


ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

Once again the rain gods aligned the weeks leading into the

event. Which allowed for locals and internationals to arrive a

week prior to the event to get some pre festival training in.

The hard work that they put in prior to the event really showed

throughout the Kokatat Friday Freestyle and into the

floodlight finals. The freestyle spot is a unique one, with the

spectators up close to the feature under a canopy of Irish

woodland, the ability to share advice and cheer each other on

is a big part of what makes this day so memorable. As the

finalists are drawn and the light starts to fade, the true

spectacle of this event unveils. Dusk gives way to the bright

lights on the banks, at which point, the stage is set. The

women’s final show-cased some of the world’s best female

freestylers on the scene right now! From Spain’s National

Champion Nuria Fontane i Maso, to Austria’s National

Champion Denise Rebnegger, World Finalist Sage Donnelly,

Irish National Champion Aoife Hanrahan, two of the UKs top

women Lowri Davies and Heidi Walsh and our current World

Champion Ottilie Robinson Shaw.

All women wowed the crowd with their rides going huge with

some big air moves. Ottilie Robinson Shaw showed the crowd

the reason she is the current world champion and why she is

one of the most progressive and dynamic paddlers in the

world right now, taking the win on Friday night!

As the sun came up, athletes flooded through the heart of Galway City to one of the festival’s highlight events, The NRS Corrib

Boater X. Sage Donelly demonstrated those slalom skills of hers to to fly around the buoy and pushed hard to take the win! The

men’s final was yet again another showcase having a very ‘interesting’ start from one of the main bridges on the river. The

finalists made it very interesting for themselves during the race briefing, jokes turned into race rules, and now a seal launch off

the bridge a mandatory kick flip, and an upstream gate stood in their way of victory. With a diverse range of kayaking

background’s in the finals, concern’s ranged from the obligatory kickflip, the fight around the buoy, and even the height of the

seal launch itself. The atmosphere was electric watching some of the fastest boaters on the scene race head to head. Irish

Kayaker Sean Cahill once again took the crown!!

As the weekend drew to a close, the prize giving saw a talk from the legendary Dave Manby. He shared stories from all around

the world, one that had the room in sheer silence. The atmosphere was electric when the winners were announced and the

roars from the crowd filled the room, if it’s one thing the Irish community excel at, it’s support for each other. Sage Donnelly was

announced the Queen of Galway Fest and Quim Fontane was announced the King. Our prize ceremony contains a sobering

moment where we reminisce about our friends who will never be forgotten. With Corey Middleton taking home the

well-deserved Alex McGourty memorial trophy and Bradley Skidmore awarded our dear friend David Higgins memorial trophy.

A big thank you to everyone who donated to the Higgins, McGourty and Vaughan fund with 800 euro going to each group: The

Irish Community Rapid Response, Free the Rivers Fund, Balkan River Defence and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The Galway Fest Crew want to say a big thank you to all of the incredible sponsors who support this event it would not be the

event that it is today without them! They are very excited to announce that the 10th anniversary of Galway fest will be:

The 12th, 13th and 14th of March 2021: Galway Fest 2021 make sure to save the date!

The men’s top 10 was an incredible list of athletes! With

locals David McClure and Tom Dunphy throwing down on

their home ground, to world cup finalist, Poland’s Bartosz

Czauderna, Germany’s Johannes Baaden and to GB’s top

male freestylers Rob Crowe, Gavin Barker, Harry Price, Jake

Boswell and Charlie Blackpool, showing everyone how the

best in the world do it. The atmosphere both on and off the

water was electric. Each competitor cheering on the next as

previous world Champion Quim Fontane Maso finished off

the evening with an explosive and powerful ride taking the

Galway Fest Freestyle Crown.

Saturday brought everyone out to the beautiful Gaeltacht

(Irish speaking) coastal town that is An Spideal. The

Boluisce’s (Tip: it’s pronounced ‘Bo-lish-ka) river gates

opened up for our first racer early that morning. Nick Bennet

demonstrated the training that he has put in and put down a

blisteringly quick time, that was one of the fastest in Galway

Fest history. Ahead of previous champion and 2nd place

finisher on the day, Lucien Schreiber, by 3 seconds. Crowning

Nick the King of the Boluisce! Or the Boly-sluis-e if you were

to ask him… US paddler and slalom athlete Sage showed her

incredible skill’s, taking the title of Queen of the Boluisce,

pushing ahead of local Aoife Hanrahan on the course this

year by half a second! Without doubt the final rapid Poll Gorm

provides the height of entertainment for kayakers of a range

of abilities all throughout the day. With spectators able to see

the finish line of the race, albeit it not being a particularly

difficult rapid- lactic arms after a gruelling 6 minutes prior

paves way to some surprise finishes as athletes pull hard

through the hole under the bridge, marking the finish line.

Lots of smiles and laughs were had even through the rain

showers and a particularly persistent Atlantic ocean ‘breeze’!

The day fell into the night, stories were told and friends

reminisced grooving out in 80s themed style. The local

kayakers showing the international’s how to celebrate a true

Irish festival in style…..

30 31

ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

ORGANISER

• Giving Black out Dave a walkie talkie

• Not having the Bibs on time

• Back in the day trying to do the race times with

pen and paper. Rain was not our friend

There have been so many more along the way, but we are pretty

good at winging it, so we never let it stop us.

We would have had way more problems over the years if it

wasn’t for our sponsors stepping in over the weekend and

digging us out when we needed it. From shuttles to tents and

PA’s they have kept the event running smooth.

What was the biggest mistake you made in running Galway

Fest? Either this year or over the years?

We always try to do something different each year so next

year will be no different. I don’t think we can go any bigger, but

we defiantly will be better. It’s crazy to think next year will be

the 10th Galway Fest so we will have to pull out all the stops

to make it the best yet.

We are pretty happy with the format over the three days so

the schedule should look pretty similar to this year. But we

might through a curve ball in somewhere to mix it up a bit.

Are there any funny stories from behind the scenes?

Plenty but I don’t think this is the place to tell them.

Photography: Jack Ledwith

APRIL 2020 - INTERVIEW

Congratulations on once again running such a fantastic

event. Now after it’s all over how do you feel it went from

an organisational point of view? Did it all run smoothly or

were there many issues to tackle?

Thankfully the event went really smooth all weekend. After

three weekends of storm warnings we got a relatively good

weekend weather wise. We are so lucky to have a huge

amount of help & support from the kayaking community to

run this event. It’s the people that come back every year to

lend a hand that makes this event possible.

What do you attribute the success of Galway fest to?

How have you gone about gaining the international

attendance you have?

From the outset we wanted to create a kayaking event that

gave the most amount kayaking to all the participants. We

want this to be a weekend of paddling not spectating. As the

numbers have got bigger this has become more challenging

however, I think we have a nice balance that allows everyone

to go away happy with their weekend of paddling.

As for internationals, it started by inviting our friends over

who we met while paddling abroad. Luckily Andrew, Aoife and

I have spent a decent amount of time traveling

internationally and made lots of friends along the way. Over

the last two years I have really noticed a lot more

internationals coming over. So many new faces from around

the world are showing up each year. Galway Fest is not just a

time to catch up with old friends but also a place to met so

many more. We always give a warm welcome in Galway so

there’s always a place to crash for anyone traveling over.

This hospitality has definitely helped keep the

internationals coming back every year.

How has your approach to the organisation of the event

changed with experience? What lessons have you learnt

from previous years you’ve applied to this years event?

I fully believe you learn best from your own mistakes and I

can assure you we have made every mistake in the book at

this stage. But we do learn form it each year and try to make

the next event a little better. Over the years we learned what

works and what doesn’t and have moved the event along

with that. We always want to keep the event fresh so are

always looking at ways to change the format for the better.

Last year we added another day to the weekend by

introducing freestyle Friday which was a huge success. At

first, we didn’t think people would take the day off and travel

down on Friday, but we were so wrong. The Freestyle night

finals are now my favourite part of the weekend.

What was the biggest mistake you made in running

Galway Fest? Either this year or over the years?

There has been too many to mention them all but here’s a

few that spring to mind

• Never run the time trial on Sunday morning, we all

need a lie in.

• Not charging the walkie talkies

32 33

ISSUE 7

FLOWSTATE MAGAZINE

Ciaran ‘Kipper’ Maguire is the latest

addition to the ever-growing team in

Canoeing Ireland. Ciaran has come on

board as your new Events and

Development Manager, off the back of a

lengthy (and still ongoing) career in

paddlesports. As well as achievements

ranging from representing Ireland to

becoming a Level 5 instructor, Ciaran has

had a hand in organising some of the best

paddling and outdoor events the island

has seen. Ciaran sat down with us just

after coming on board to chat about his

career to date, and what his plans are to

deliver new and ever better events under

the Canoeing Ireland banner.

INTERVIEW

Could you give us a quick highlight reel of your colourful

background in paddle sports? Competitions, favourite trips

and favourite discipline?

I grew up in Chapelizod and from an early age I got to see paddling

in our neighbourhood, I started off in Slalom racing and I raced in

Foxford, Avondale House and in a swimming pool to name a few of

the highlights. In school we had two super teachers Helen

Murphy and Tony Nugent they brought us on so many trips. A

highlight at the age of 14 was our school expedition down the

River Inny. After school I spent two years on the Shackleton

Outdoor Instructor Training course where I learned to sail,

windsurf and a lot more. Freestyle paddling was taking off. Pat

Mc Elhenney from Galway ran the very first freestyle competition

on the Boluisce River. Pat started something great. We are lucky

that there are people like Pat all around the country in all

disciplines.

I was on the first Irish Freestyle Team that competed in the 1997

World Championships in Canada. I competed in 3 more World

Championships. I won 3 national freestyle titles. I didn’t start off

winning it took some time and a lot of hard work. In 2005 I

managed and coached a team that went to the Worlds in

Australia. At this event Moe Kelleher came 6th in the men’s

senior event. That result was one of our best in Competition.

While competing I kept up my river running and my qualifications.

In 2016 I became a level 5 instructor. That’s 24 years in our Award

Scheme as I still have my basic cert from 1992.

I have also paddled all over Europe, India, America, Canada,

Australia, New Zealand and Morocco.

What events have you been involved with in the past? Which

are you particularly proud of?

I co organized the Sluice rodeo with my friend Joules Dormer for

many years. We used a boat to ferry spectators and the sounds

system across the river. It was a little crazy but great fun.

By accident I got involved in commentating. At the World

Championships in 2001 in Spain I was chief commentator.

This puts you in the middle of the event. The link between the

judges, paddlers and the audience. At that Worlds we ran a

night-time semi-final. Thousands turned out to watch it. The

atmosphere was electric. I also commentated at the worlds in

Germany in 2011. This event was streamed live and I was

speaking to a global audience. Working on these five day

events gives you a great understanding of the work load and

the challenges of running large events.

When I co owned Total Experience we ran several events like

the Wacko on the Jacko, Achill Roar, West Wicklow roar.

These are big events with kayaking, cycling and running.

They have lots of moving parts. We also worked on other

events like the Killarney Adventure race which is now part of

the Quest Adventure race series.

Over the years I have worked on a lot of corporate Team

building events from a half day to 3 days in duration. These

require lots of planning and plenty of thinking on your feet.

I have also been involved in a few Charity events like The

Zanskar Expedition to India. We paddled 300 km of the

Zanskar Gorge. We made a film about the trip and the

proceeds from the sales of the DVD where given to two

charities. The Irish cancer Society and a school for visual

impaired students in India. We raised over 10k

In 2013 myself and Teena Gates cycled on a tandem bike

from LauraLynn to the K club some 40km away. Then we

raced in the Liffey Descent. We raised 10k for the charity.

In recent years I have taken part in a few cycle events like the

Ring of Kerry, Ring of Beara and the Great Dublin Cycle.

These are big events with thousands taking part. It’s great to

see big events from the eyes of a participant.

What are your plans for Canoeing Ireland events, not any

specifics just what do you hope to achieve in the

position?

Firstly it’s an honour to be working in the sport that I love and

has given me so much. Canoeing has opened so many doors

for me over the years. It’s also a pleasure to be working with

the Board our CEO and the team in the office. As well as all

our great clubs and members around the country. Everyone

has one goal and that is to drive the sport forward.

We have a great network of events and competitions around

the country. I hope to support the existing events and

develop new ones. I have some ideas on big easy access

national events and then some smaller regional events. I

would like to hear from our members about their thoughts on

events or any ideas anyone has.

So please drop me an email to events@canoe.ie

Here is a list of what’s planned for the season some are our

events and others we are supporting.

• National Clean up week.

• Junior Liffey Descent

• Waterways Ireland event

• National Paddles day

• Weekend workshops for clubs

• Liffey Odyssey

• Park Paddle

• Inclusion games

• Liffey Descent. I must say that the previous race

Director Shane Cronin has done an incredible job with

the race over the last three years. He has handed over a

very detailed and organised event.

• Support Paddle fest

• Women in Sport event

• European week of Sport (September 23rd-30th)

• Awards night

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt organising

events over the years? The biggest downfalls you’ve had

and how they’ve improved your skill set?

Getting organised months in advance of race day is key.

Looking out for what’s coming down the track. This gives you

plenty of time to react if things change. Other times you just

need to think on your feet and sort out a problem. You must

be flexible and happy to change the plan.

Speak to other event organisers, volunteers and participants.

The biggest thing I have learned is that it’s all about the

people. The people doing the event come first after all it’s

their event not mine. Then it’s the team working on the event.

Everyone is playing a part in its success. We are very lucky as

canoeing is full of these types of people. Whether they are

new to the sport or have been paddling for years.

I guess I am lucky as I have been involved in all aspects of

events big and small, I have even done rescue for the Liffey

Descent

34 35


VOLUNTEER

IMPACT OF YOUR ROLE ON

SPORT/COMMUNITY

TOM EGAN

REASON FOR NOMINATION

Tom Egan has committed his life to the sport of Canoeing for the past 50

Years. Tom began his Canoeing career in Grade Ten Canoe Club in Lucan,

Co. Dublin. He himself competed in slalom events and began volunteering

by helping beginners and juniors progress in the sport and attend events

around the country. From this he progressed into becoming the National

Team Manager for Canoe Slalom Ireland, his duties during this period

included travelling to and coordinating and managing teams competing

Nationally and Internationally across Europe at World Championship level.

Tom then decided to move his focus from Canoe Slalom to Canoe Sprint

and Marathon and moved to Salmon Leap Canoe Club, Leixlip, Co.Kildare.

Since this time, he has played a major part in Salmon Leap Canoe Club

ranging from organising club races to elite National level races, namely

Irish National Sprint Championships and Irish National Marathon

Championships and continues to do so to date. During this time and to this

day Tom is the Club Manager doing above and beyond his managerial

duties and makes himself available 24/7 to help or assist everybody. In the

year 2000 Salmon Leap Canoe Club underwent a major renovation due to

Hewlett Packard locating close to the club, Tom was elected as part of a

small committee tasked with negotiating between Hewlett Packard,

Kildare County Council and the National Lottery.

Alongside this Tom has also been a member of the Canoe Sprint Team

Ireland Committee, he is the longest serving Team Manager of Canoe

Sprint Ireland to date and continues to do so. Some of the major events in

which he has been Team Manager for include World Cups, European

Championships and World Championships and the European Games

which is under the flag of the Olympic Federation of Ireland. In 2008 Tom

was head hunted by a former National Coach and asked to be Team

Manager for the Finnish Olympic Canoe Sprint Team at the Beijing

Olympics due to his wealth of knowledge and experience and the fact that

Canoe Sprint Ireland had no representative there.

The biggest race on the Irish Calendar is the International Liffey Descent

which is run by Canoeing Ireland. Tom has been involved in the commentary

of this race throughout the years at Straffan weir, Lucan weir and the finish

at Islandbridge due to his vast knowledge of the National and International

competitors. This year was the 60th International Liffey Descent and a

book was compiled by Ian Maclean in which Tom played a major

contribution to having been involved in the race for many years.

Tom’s commitment and passion to

Salmon Leap Canoe Club is endless from

organising and towing trailers full of

boats all over Ireland and Great Britain

has helped the club to be the premier

racing club in Ireland. He has dedicated

all his free time to the club ensuring

junior and senior canoeists have

transportation to competitions. This has

proved fruitful as so many of our athletes

have reached elite levels of competition

and represented Ireland Internationally.

Salmon Leap Canoe Club is thriving and

bursting at the seems with new

applicants as a result of all Tom’s

endeavours, so much so that the club are

now looking to extend in order to

accommodate new members and future

athletes.

Tom’s work on administration and

strategic planning on behalf of Salmon

Leap Canoe Club and Canoe Sprint

Ireland has led to some of Ireland’s top

international results. His work along with

Leitrim County Council has also brought

a National Canoe Sprint Course to

Lough Rynn, funded by Leitrim County

Council. This facility which continues to

expand and develop has brought our top

athletes to Leitrim to compete which is

great for the visibility of our sport. The

strategic planning which Tom has been

heavily involved in over the years has

secured funding for Canoe Sprint Ireland

which has been used to support athletes

competing at development through to

international elite level competitions.

This has had an influence on the sport

and community as athletes which have

achieved major results on the world

stage have shown the younger

developing athletes that it is possible to

win major international medals for

Ireland.

Tom’s personal commitment and

professionalism to Salmon Leap Canoe

Club, Canoe Sprint Ireland and the

canoeing community as a whole has

created a legacy going forward.

BALTO

KAYAK CLUB

The club started in April 2012 and was set up by Chris and

Julie O’Loan. Their kayaking bug started around 2008 after

completion of an intro course at the Canoeing Ireland

training centre. Kayaking quickly grew into an obsession

buying numerous bits of gear and the whole family started to

get involved. After paddling with another club, they decided to

start a club closer to home and Balto KC was born. It started

by just taking out friends and their families using personal

boats and equipment, the club membership quickly grew and

it was obvious that more equipment was needed. The

founders generously lent the club the funds needed and they

set out to buy a trailer, boats and gear - the club was now a

proper club.

Running the club there is a small but hard-working

committee. Melanie Fagan is Child protection officer and

does a fantastic job to ensure all protocols are held in place.

As well as paddling herself Melanie has three children

paddling with the club. John Curran is treasurer and keeps a

tight control on the spending of the Chairperson. John

paddles also and has two grown sons who both paddle, one of

which has gone onto becoming qualified as an instructor.

Julie O’loan is the Secretary and is the glue holding the day to

day running of the club together, ironically Julie’s family were

heavily involved in kayaking when she was a child, when she

started working she left the sport and has managed to come

back to it. Chris O’Loan is the Chair and senior instructor, he

is a serial gear buyer, scheme planner and loves to drive

progression for paddling activity, club members personal

development and club PR.

Balto KC is very active, focussing on paddling and club

member activity as their ultimate priority. From April through

to September they run two evening sessions every week. The

whole year there are trips every single weekend, on average

the club is on the water at least 120 days throughout the year.

The Avonmore is the top of the list of club favourite trips, a

local classic is the Dereen in Carlow, Avonbeg, Colligan, Nire,

Kings, Suir, Barrow are also regular runs, Freestyle days are in

Kilkenny, Sluice in Dublin and Tuam. Clashganny and Clonmel

are great family and skills development days. We love the sea

also and trips to Dalkey, Kilfarrasy on the copper coast and

surf trips to Lahinch, Magheramore & Tramore are club

favourites also.

This year the club turned a huge spotlight onto River Safety

Rescue, there is so much to take in and improve upon that it

cannot be done in just one day. Having ran 2 RSR 2 cert days

with the more experienced paddlers it was clear the club

needed to run prep days, several days were spent on the

water at Clashganny but during the winter they ran really

successful classroom sessions for 10 weeks, going through

as much as possible and repeating the skills learnt

(Especially useful for knots and throw bag work).

36 37


Balto KC had a full season planned ahead, always having at least 3 months scheduled on the clubs event page on facebook.

They always try to get a balance to ensure that all levels of club members get opportunities to get out. This has been difficult as

Balto have only had Chris as their instructor up to recently but last year John's son David helped out a lot and this year Chris’s

daughter Brianna has qualified as an instructor.

The usual home favourite trips will hopefully make a comeback but they are planning ahead for a trip to Cardiff whitewater

centre later this year, Kerry is in the planning for a Christmas trip, and early plans have been laid for a trip to the Soca river in

Slovenia for Spring 2021.

Having spent the last 7 years building the club and progressing members Balto went to their first Galway Fest this year and it’s

now a fixed date in our calendar for years to come.

The club is quite diverse and pride themselves on having an almost 50/50 split of Female and Male club members. Balto has

often been described by our members as a big family and to us that's a clear indicator they are doing things right. The sessions

are made up by Mams, Dads and kids all on the water at the same time - they don't split sessions by Juniors / Seniors. Balto

actually don't have seniors - calling anyone over 18 our Super Seventeens.

Balto are a non-denominational club but couldn't exist in their current form without the help and cooperation of the local

church who are giving them a home base

The club successfully applied for a sports Capital grant last year and for the first time they now have a full set of equipment that

matches and is all brand new, thanks to Colm in I-Canoe.

The grant has also allowed investment in 12 river Runners, 6 Freestyle boats, 4 junior boats, 3 Canadians and 10 SUPs along

with all the gear to support. It’s the first funding that the club has ever received from outside and it’s already allowed Balto to

diversify and keep the club growing.

As part of the application and working closely with Wicklow Local Sports Partnership Balto KC are taking training and have

planned a series on Inclusivity days so they can share the joy and put their new equipment to good use.

.

38

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