coaches at Arawa

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  Who are you?

Ken Livingston, currently Prez of Arawa.

Which  training sessions/groups do you coach?

  I guide some of the Sunday morning sessions, but they're mostly self-directed, and I used to take Weedcatchers from time to time, until Ian Huntsman recovered enough to run the sessions. I'm one of the coaches for the Wednesday evening technique sessions.

How long have you been paddling/coaching?  And what sort of paddling? 

  I started out as a whitewater paddler - after 5 years of that I couldn't handle that much fun and got into multisport paddling. After about 25 years of multisport I'm still groveling down rivers. I've dabbled in sprint and still have it in the back of my mind, but it's not a smart retirement option. In spite of lots of good intentions, the ocean ski gets too little use, and Hube and I get out in the adventure racing double from time to time - on the ocean or down rivers.

Coaching career and qualifications?

  I coached the Arawa beginners sessions for about 10 years and did the Level 1 and 2 coaching course that Sport Canterbury put      on at the time, plus a couple of coaching papers when I was studying at Massey. Even though my technique is still shocking, I'm keen to pass on the stuff I've learned to the Wednesday evening paddlers, hopefully      without passing on my bad habits.

Best coaching moment or success?

  It's been very satisfying seeing the people I helped start out going up on the Coast to Coast podium.

Most embarrassing kayaking/coaching moment?

  I took a swim about two strokes from the end of a 500m race at the Sprint Nationals.  The K1 won the (Novice) race without me on board.  I think the finish was allowed so they could see what I might do next.

  Who are you? 

Sarah Helmore

Which training sessions/groups do you coach? Beginners Groups (Saturday)

How long have you been      paddling/coaching?  And what sort of paddling?

 Paddling for 10years, multisport kayaks, coaching for 4 years

Coaching career and qualifications? 

Help out with Arawa Beginners sessions for last 3-4 years. PE/OE teacher. Presently Trip Coordinator at DRKC. 

Best coaching moment or success? 

Seeing anyone that I have worked with have the confidence to get down  the river with confidence with a smile on their face. 

"My name is Dylan Neal-Hill, and I’m one of the coaches at Arawa Canoe Club. I've been a proud member of Arawa for over 10 years and have been coaching since 2020. As an ex-competitive sprint kayaker, I’m excited to share my love for this amazing sport with others.

I work with a diverse group of over 30 paddlers, from beginners learning to stay upright to high-performance junior world athletes. My passion lies in helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve their full potential, whether they're just starting out or competing at an international level.

In addition to being a kayak coach, I am also deeply involved in surf lifesaving, another passion of mine. I work with many athletes who compete in both kayaking and surf lifesaving, giving me a unique perspective on the balance required to excel in both sports. This dual involvement allows me to support and guide athletes in achieving their best performance across both disciplines, ensuring they have the skills and stamina needed for success.

I currently run a free beginners session every Saturday at 3 PM, and everyone is welcome. If you're interested in joining, please contact me to confirm your attendance. Come on down to Arawa and start your kayaking journey with us!"

Dylan Neal-Hill

dnealhill08@gmail.com

  Who are you? 

Bruce Garrett

Which training sessions/groups do you coach?  

Saturday morning beginner sessions.

How  long have you been paddling/coaching?  And what sort of paddling? 

I have been padding multisport since 2012, competing in the Coast to Coast in 2013 and 2014.

Coaching  career and qualifications?  

After enjoying paddling for many years and having seen the graciousness and      generosity of other Club members, I put my hand up to assist with the beginner coaching about 5 years ago. I have no coaching      qualifications, I am just a keen volunteer.

Best coaching moment or success?  

It is always fantastic to see people who came along to a beginner session go on to      complete the Coast to Coast and/or still be paddling years later.

Most embarrassing kayaking/coaching moment?  

I’ve had plenty of embarrassing swims, even in the Avon. The most memorable is probably while being attacked by a swan.

Who am I?

I am a Registered Nurse working for the Department of Corrections, a club coach for beginners and a Weedies coach at Arawa. I am also a member of the Down River kayak Club (DRKC).

When did I start kayaking?

I first started back in 1974 when I was an Air Cadet in 342 Ealing and Brentford Squadron of the Air Training Corps, at the age of 14. One of the adult instructors was a kayak coach who would take us out on the Thames and its tributaries, as well as making fibreglass kayaks (Snipes). I earned my first award, the British Canoe Union (BCU) Elementary Certificate in 1975.

What then?

I joined the British Army in 1976 when I was 16 years old, leaving in 1990. During my time as a front line soldier, I spent 5 years as the co-pilot and weapons operator of Lynx anti-tank helicopters, serving 2 of them in Northern Ireland during the Troubled times which was "interesting", but worried my mother. I also spent a short time in the cavalry being a gunner in a 60 ton Challenger tank.

Kayak-wise, I took up Alpine kayaking in the German Alps, White Water Racing (WWR) and slalom. WWR became my main competition sport, and I managed to get into the Army team. I was also an Army Canoe Instructor and Joint Services Sea Expedition Leader. I belonged to 2 clubs, the Kanu und Segel Gild Hildesheim and the Halbewilde Kayakfahrer Norddeutchland (HKN). The HKN was an invite only club, and I was their first Brit club member and I have so many stories of these days, feel free to ask me about them anytime. When I left the Army and returned back to England, I joined the Northampton Canoe Club and continued to compete, becoming a club and WWR coach. Interestingly, I have some racing results from the early 90's where I was racing a certain Ian Huntsman! (even beating him in one race!).  

Best Kayaking moments/achievements?

There are a couple of achievement s that I am particularly proud of:

One is gaining the Joint Services Sea Expedition Leaders Award. I went on 3 kayak expeditions up the outside of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, starting in Vancouver and finishing at Prince Rupert, just short of Alaska. I got close to Minke Whales, Grey Whales, and was once surrounded by a pod of Orca, with one swimming under me and another spy hopping beside me. There was once beach which was a planned stop for the night  when we had to wait for a whole pack of wolves to leave the beach first! The food we carried in the kayaks was supplemented by fishing for rock cod. It was on the 3rd expedition that I was awarded the JSSEL Award for having lead the whole expedition. I am really proud of this achievement as at the time there were only about 24 JSSEL's in the Armed Forces including civilian instructors.

Another achievement I will never forget is competing in and finishing the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race (DW). The DW is a 125 mile race, half on the Kennet and Avon Canal and half on the River Thames, with lots of portages.  K1's compete over 3 days, and K2's go straight through and is the main event. It attracts over 600 paddlers from all over the world. I was teaching 2 guys to kayak as they had decided to do this race for charity, and then 1 dropped out so I stepped up and took his place in the front seat. We finished the race in 31st place, despite having a novice in the back the size of an All Black, in a race that was the worst on record with a record number of competitors pulling out and the Thames in flood and the weather really cold. I even got frostbite in my hands, and I was in absolute pieces at the end. It took us 24 hours and 18 minutes.

Not in the same league, but also of note, were when I took on a 30ft waterfall with the HKC, and a grade 5 rapid on the River Ubaye in the French Alps.

Did I ever mention the Matthews Cup..............

When did I join Arawa?

My family and I moved to New Zealand from England in August 2009, and I joined Arawa in 2010, when I found out where it was. As there was no WWR scene here, or even slalom, I took up paddling a multisport which is the nearest thing to WWR. I'd never even seen a multisport boat before. I really enjoy coaching, especially beginners, racing the Brass Monkey Series (when there is one), the Classic, and even did a slalom on the Hurunui years ago. Basically, anytime that I'm in a kayak, I'm happy!  

Any other sports?

I really enjoy most sports, and have taken part in more than most: Athletics, mostly the running and jumping, boxing, judo, fencing, football, rugby, badminton (this was a real favourite), cross country, orienteering, padder or short tennis, table tennis (I played in the Northampton league), ice skating, but all this came to a stop due to arthritis in my right knee from Army injuries. Now I just kayak and keep fit in the gym, with cardio being rowing machines or exercise bike which do not jar the knee as I have arthritis in my right knee from Army injuries.

I love watching the rugby, and every year renew my season ticket for the Crusaders and Canterbury, and was lucky enough to meet many of the All Blacks at the charity Black-Clash last year, even joining in on the pre-game briefing with Sir Henry Graham.

You might have noticed that swimming was missing from the list. I learnt to swim a little when I joined the Army at 16, even non-swimmers had to jump off the diving boards, but never got a hang of it. I tried again just before the Canterbury earthquakes, and managed to get up to 2 lengths of a swimming pool, but the 'quakes closed all the pools, and I haven't been back since. I hate swimming, and if God intended me to swim, he wouldn't have invented the roll!

Favourite sportsperson

I'd like to say Lisa as she is a true inspiration to kayakers and such a nice person, but I would have to say my all time favourite sports person is Nigel "The Dark Destroyer" Benn. He was born to a poor family in London, joined the Army and was a Lance Corporal in the Fusiliers (I can totally relate to this). He later became World Champion in the Middleweight Division, winning some epic battles. He has the heart of a lion and a never give up attitude, as was demonstrated in the Benn vs. McClellan fight where he was knocked through the ropes in the first round, hit the deck in the latter rounds, but still got up to win. It is just so unfortunate for Gerald McClellan who suffered such serious injury from that match. Benn is also such a nice guy.

My plans for the next 12 months

I am due to retire next year so am looking forward to being able to take part in more weekend events and races, and as I get greyer I don't want to get any slower (good luck with that!).

See you all on the water!