Peak UK's Paul honoured by Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club

Posted By: Peak UK Published: 29/12/2015

Paul and Bodie

At the recent Holme Pierrepont Slalom Canoe Club awards evening our very own employee, Paul Ramsdale, was celebrated for his many years of volunteer coaching.

Paul began running slalom coaching sessions for the HPP CC nearly 10 years ago, heading down to the whitewater course in Nottingham every Tuesday and Thursday night come rain or shine. Paddlers attending evening sessions varied in both age (12-65years) and skill level - from absolute beginners, to whitewater paddling, to those people making their way back into the sport.

Along with his brother Richard, Paul's passion for the sport and coaching helped develop the club from a small band of 5 friends paddling together, to a club that now boasts over 100 active competitive slalom paddlers. The main aim for the Ramsdales in the early years was to offer some sort of competitive slalom focused session to those paddlers that were interested in the local area. Now the club is one of the best equipped clubs in the country, offering highly technical and specific sessions from coaches/paddlers still competing at the highest level, both nationally and internationally. Now 6 to 7 different groups of paddlers train twice weekly, paddlers from different regions are requesting membership, the club has never been healthier; a far cry from 5 friends being ‘coached’ by their Dads!

paul

It was because of this dedication to the slalom section of the HPP CC and the legacy they have created, that an award was created in their name to be annually awarded to the ‘Club Person of the Year’ with the inaugural presentation of the Ramsdale Award going to Paul.

Somewhat humbled by the presentation Paul commented, “I find it hard to believe the journey the slalom club has taken in such a short period of time, and that is mainly down to the hard work put in by those people behind the scenes. So thank you to all those that are involved in someway or another. This all feels a little surreal to be honest, I’m extremely humbled by it. I’ve enjoyed (almost) every coaching session that I’ve run in the past 9 or so years, and I’m looking forward to many more to come.”

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