Trentham Canoe Club

Committee & Coaches

Dave Whiston
Position: Chairman

Always a character around the lake, Dave has now taken over the reins as the clubs new chairman. After years of watching family members paddle, Dave can often be seen in a race boat around the lake or cooking up a storm on the BBQ.

John Court

Position: Outrigger canoes. TWA Director & Coach

John may well have been born with a single blade in his hands. He has raced Slalom C2 in the 1972 Olympics and set a world record for the Arctic Canoe Race amongst other things. More recently he has become heavily involved with outrigger canoeing, particularly with disabled paddlers. John can generally be found at the helm of an outrigger canoe.

Chris Haigh

Position: Secretary & TWA Director

Chris has been an extended member of the club for a long time as he supports his sons, Graeme and Andrew, from the bank. An ever reliable and friendly character means you often find Chris chatting to other parents on the bank during sessions or helping to organise club behind the scenes.

Phil Roberts

Position: Race Rep & Coach

Phil is the tall person usually seen in a white racing K1, either training to hold off these young slalom paddlers, or gently encouraging others to take up racing, always hopeful that one day some of the juniors will try to train harder than they chatter. Phil can be found at most local marathons and more recently at the National Sprint regattas.

Lynda Whiston

Position: Parent/Junior Rep & Volunteer Co-ordinator

Along with Dave, Lynda spent many hours supporting her family as they went canoeing at the lake. Now she is heavily involved in the club and paddling herself. She can often be seen paddling a race boat around the lake in some form of bright clothing.

Dave Bradbury

Position: Welfare Officer & Coach

Dave is often found helping to introduce the many beginners to the clubnight sessions. Dave is also a home-grown coach, who may be quiet, but has the most impressive set of coaching notes ever. Always dependable, he has a knack of producing teams for our bellboat and outrigger races.

Jane Parker

 Position: Fundraising Co-ordinator 

Jeff Parker

Position: Coach

Andy Hargraves

Position: Publicity Officer

For anything media related, Andy is your man.. If not seen with a camera around his neck photographing events, he can be spotted in either a race boat trying to keep up or a polo boat having fun. 

Malcolm Shead

Position: Membership Secretary

Malcolm returns to Kayaking after a 15 year hiatus from the sport. The warm welcome and attentive race coaching he received after joining the club compelled Malcolm to give a little back to TCC. Before he knew what had hit him, he  had a pile of forms and a load of spreadsheets thrown at him, and he is now the new membership secretary.

Howard Shorrock

Position: Disability Rep & Coach

Howard is the admin coach for the Paddle-Ability (including Special Olympics Group) sessions on a Tueday evening. A recent convert from the sailing world he still misses his 50 hp Rescue RIB.

Graeme Haigh

Position: Coach

If it floats Graeme will paddle it. From coaching the fledgling canoe polo team to the paddleability paddlers, Graeme has been a fantastic coach and volunteer very generous with his time. Often seen in either a canoe polo boat or his white Nelo race boat at most races.

Philippa Sunderland

Position: Coach

Steve Baddeley

Position: Coach

Hannah Smith:

Coach

Will Pemberton

Position: Cadet Leader

Matt Halfpenny

Position: Safety Officer & Coach

Carole 'Caz' Sumner

Committee Position: Student Rep

The role of keeping the students of TCC engaged in paddling this year is Caz. She is involved with the students of Staffordshire University and they  can be found on a wednesday afternoon on the lake. You cant miss the University crowd for their bright orange hoodies and enthusiasm.

Carl Sunderland

Position: Cadet Leader

Chris Voisey

Position: Equipment Officer & Coach

Chris is a keen Scouter and can be seen running sessions for the club or the Scouts. In the summer he can sometimes be spotted trying to do a head-stand in a kayak or swimming out of a racing kayak. He is a genius with all things metal and someone the club can always depend upon.

Keith Sunderland

Position: Coach

Keith is one of the club’s longest standing members and coaches and has been a key contributor throughout club's development, although
recently stepped down as club chairman and TWA director we are sure Keith will continue to  play a part in  supporting the
scouting and canoe club sections of the TWA.

Gordon Hulmes

Position: Coach

One of TCC's home grown coaches, Gordon is often seen teaching and coaching new beginners on the club night sessions. You cant miss Gordon whilst out paddling in his bright green kayak

Dave Chapman

Position: Coach