top of page
Our History
Trentham Canoe Club was established in 2006 to promote and develop canoeing in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
​
We share our facilities with the local rowing club (Trentham Boat Club) and together we make up the Trentham Watersports Association. This is an umbrella organisation that represents the interests of Trentham Canoe Club and Trentham Boat Club
In 2009 the £350,000 clubhouse was opened by world champion canoeist Anna Hemmings. Anna, who has won nine World and European gold medals, viewed the facilities before cutting the ribbon in the official opening ceremony. In order to provide the facilities that are on offer a lot of time and effort was put in by a large team of people and sponsors. The club managed to secure funding through multiple grants, including Sport England, Awards for All, Sports Relief, The Local Network Fund and the British Canoeing Junior Development Project.
In 2009, the club received a visit from Lord Sebastian Coe and the 2012 Olympic committee. They were given a full tour of the club facilities and spent time talking to members of the club
Ruth Holdway was an inspirational figure and the main driving force behind Trentham Canoe Club. She sadly passed away in a tragic hiking accident whilst on holiday in Madeira in 2009. Ruth was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 23 and so started her crusade of fundraising and general awareness of cancer charities. Despite this she continued to canoe throughout Europe ranking in the top 50 female slalom paddlers in the UK. In 2004, she raised £15,000, for three cancer charities by organising a world record 24 hour canoe polo match. Two years later she helped set up Trentham Canoe Club.
At the 2007 City of Stoke-on-Trent Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Ruth collected the Sports in Community award on behalf of the Trentham Watersports Association. She went on to receive the Professional Community Coach award at the Canoe England Volunteer Awards.
Ruth was a fantastic coach, mentor and close friend to many of the paddlers who came to paddle at Trentham. Her wonderful legacy of assisting in the formation of the club has been left behind and we endeavour in her honour to keep up the hard work she started.
bottom of page