British Canoeing, Australian Canoeing & World Paddle Awards 2015
British Canoeing Awards
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| Ready for action |
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Securing a place in the British Canoeing History books
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| Freestyle making an appearance at the British Canoeing Awards night |
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| Laura on stage with many of the top British Kayak Athletes |
There is no doubt that there is a team behind every athlete. Often members of this team go relatively unrecognised and unknown outside of those involved directly in the training and support structure with the athlete. Unknown to many, Laura "Sooty' Sutcliffe has been an instrumental part of my journey and success for many years now. We first met and started working together back in 2008 when she worked at Leeds Met University. As a sports science student and the lifeguard on my pool training sessions she quickly became one of my first squirt boating coaches and worked with me for several hours a week providing vital video analysis sports science support.
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| Training in the pool you can just see Suttys knee |
Using Dartfish an elite Video analysis training package she helped me analyse every component of squirt boating. Working together in the pool at Leeds Met for all winter I managed to gain a real competitive edge, which in the summer of 2009 helped me win my first World Championship World Championship in Switzerland. We kept training and in 2011 Laura flew out to Germany a few weeks before the worlds to help me train and prepare to defend my world champion title. This was in Plattling, where I won my first double Gold.
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| On tour in Germany 2011 |
Then this year Laura was there with me. This time at the event. Using her newly development skills as a physio and sports masseuse and her Sports Science knowledge and experience in the sport she volunteered her time to work with the entire GB team as we each battled our way through the event.
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| Celebrating our most recent success on the banks of the Ottawa river |
To have Laura be able to go and pick up my award at the British Canoeing Awards night was a great honour and a great (albeit small) gesture of thanks for all the support she has given me along my journey and in my success.
Thank you Sooty mate for being awesome.
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| Laura Celebrating with a shiny trophy |
Australian Canoeing Awards
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| Australian Canoeing Awards night (Photo by Rob Van Bommel Sportscene) |
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| Eileen celebrate a great year with Tim and Kim. Parents of two of the top Australian junior freestyle kayakers |
Mid way through the night myself and Jez were invited on stage by Slalom legend Richard Fox for an interview about our experiences at the World Championships including of course our engagement. Then we announced the Quiz results before Richard rounded up the night.
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| In our element on stage with an audience and a mic. |
World Paddle Awards
Talking about influential people within paddlersport and one name comes top of my list. As you all already know an absolutely huge, key member of my support team is GB Freestyle Head Coach, Sweet Water Coaching's own, Dennis Newton. I have said before that Dennis is awesome and how vital he has been in my success. It is with great pride that I can announce that Den has been nominated for and Shortlisted as a finalist in the World Paddle Awards. Please take the time to read his nomination bio as it really gives credit to the amazing work that he has done for the sport of kayaking and all his athletes.
http://www.worldpaddleawards.com/nominees/2015-dennis-newton-great-britain
DENNIS NEWTON (Great Britain) - Nominee for the 2015 'Foundation Award' in his capacity as a coach.
- Born: 1978; sport(s): Freestyle, Extreme, Tourism and Recreation; represents: Great Britain
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| Den ready to roll |
Dennis 'Den' Newton has won over 25 World Championship medals, 30 European Championship medals and multiple national titles. He is by far one of the most medal-adundant men in paddlesports. He is the coach behind many famous and successful whitewater champions from around the World.
He is renowned for his work coaching and developing whitewater kayaking across the globe specialising in several disciplines of paddlesports. He is most famously known for his prowess in freestyle having showcased his coaching ability and supporting athletes including 8x World Champion Claire O'Hara.
Dennis has worked with athletes who have represented Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Canada, America on the national and international circuit including the 2012 Olympics and the White Water Grand Prix, many of whom achieved podium finishes including many Championship titles and first-place finishes.
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| Dens technical understanding of the tricks and ability to deliver it to his athletes is second to none |
Many claim Dennis is the genius behind the tricks. Whether mentally, physically, technically or tactically, Dennis's knowledge encourage his athletes to reach their peak, striving to be 'the best of the best'. In 2011 he went back to university to study sports science with a specific focus on performance development, whitewater kayaking and freestyle kayaking. All the knowledge from which he has transferred straight back into the sport and to his athletes. In 2015 alone his athletes brought home 8 ICF World Championship medals.
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| Den's 2015 GB podium athletes |
Dennis success stands out from the crowd; his commitment to his athletes and the sport of whitewater kayaking and a freestyle as a whole has been influential in helping it progress to where it is now.
He will describe himslf as uninfluential, yet if you speak to any of the athletes he has worked with, grassroots through to the elite level, they will strongly say otherwise - Dennis is an intregral part of their success.
What makes Dennis unique is that he does this as a volunteer coach. Now subsidised for his work with the British team receiving a small contribution to support him and his expenses at major events, but ninety percent of what he does is voluntary - it is done as a result of his passion and love for the athletes and the sport.
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| Capturing footage above and below the surface at the 2013 Mystery World Championships |
In 2011 Dennis saw the success of the World Class programme in the Olympic canoeing disciplines and chose to establish a similar programme for athletes in the non-Olympic disciplines of freestyle kayak and extreme racing. He set up the ASP (Athlete Support Programme) to provide world class coaching and support to top freestyle athletes from around the world. He used the knowledge he has acquired from studying the different disciplines and single handedly provided this to over 20 of the top international athletes. He has know worked with over 40 of the world top athletes through the ASP programme.
At the same time he worked with the British Canoe Union as a Technical Advisor to develop a panel of people to tackle the issues surrounding grassroots development of the sport. He helped establish the freestyle 'Star Award' and coaching programme that is now rolling out across the UK and Europe. For the last two years he has worked to co-established the World of Champions Training Academy, taking many of the world's most talented freestyle kayakers to Africa in search of the best waves worldwide to train on.
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| Coaching Athletes in Uganda |
In his role as Lead Coach within the sport of freestyle he travels continually around the world to support and train his athletes.
It is regularly said there is a team behind every athlete. In freestyle kayaking it is more commonly known as 'there being 'Dennis' behind each Champ'! He is one of the vital links in the freestyle chain and has helped its progression into the professional sport to which it has now become.
Dennis is a true example of the importance and value of the volunteers that make the sport of kayaking incredible. Dennis has been nominated for the Foundation Award for his incessant commitment to his athletes and the sport.
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| British Canoeing Performance Coach of the Year 2012 |
Achievements on and off the water:
- British Canoeing Performance Coach of the Year
- World Championships multiple gold, silver and bronze medals
- European Championship multiple gold, silver and bronze medals
- Multiple National Championships gold, silver and bronze medals in many nations
- GB Freestyle Team Performance Director and Head Coach
- Head Coach for Several National teams including Team GB, Sweden, Norway, Finland
- Personal Coach to many National teams athletes including athletes from Poland, Canada, USA, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Spain
- British Canoeing Technical panel founder and member for both Freestyle kayak and White water Kayak
- Director, Founder and Head Coach of the Athlete Support Programme (ASP)
- Co Director and Founder of the ADP - World of Champions
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| Den working his magic making sure everyone enjoys every moment on the water whilst paddling at their best |
http://www.worldpaddleawards.com/
posted by claireo at
1:55 AM
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