Stafford & Stone Canoe Club - A Short History

The Present

Stafford and Stone Canoe Club is currently recognised as the most successful slalom canoe club in the country. It has consistently produced paddlers of a national standard whilst encouraging participation at all levels. The club currently has members in all three of the World Class Programmes. In World Class Start (developing juniors with the long term aim of success at international level) the club has 13 of the 43 selected paddlers. There are three members on World Class Potential (development of medal winners in the next 10 years) and one of the 10 athletes on World Class Performance (those currently performing at Olympic standard) is from Stafford and Stone. The club was victorious this year at the British Inter-club championships and has 20 members competing in the highest national division.

However, the club is not just about the performance of those at the top of the sport. There is a tiered network of coaching groups which means that people of all ages and ability can canoe. Aided by our community sports coach, this starts with school taster sessions that eventually form into training groups directed by a series of trained and dedicated coaches. Canoeing takes place on the Trent at Stone every day of the week! It is through this policy that the future of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club as one of the country’s leading clubs appears assured. Every year, the club runs a series of events, both at Stone and other venues nationally. These attract large numbers of people to Stone from all over the country.

The Club’s Past

Stafford and Stone Canoe Club has an envious record of achievement continually through its 33 year history. In that time, the club has had 16 World Championship Gold medallists (including the five time individual World Champion Richard Fox, commonly acknowledged as the greatest ever slalom canoeist), 17 World Silver and Bronze medallists, 30 National Champions, 5 Olympians and 6 World and European Junior and U23 medallists. This record was helped by the recognition of Stone as a National Centre of Excellence for canoeing in the 1970s and 80s but is still continuing to furnish the British teams with some of their brightest prospects. The Club has also won 14 of the 21 Inter-club championships, an impressive record for any club, whatever their sport. This has required the club to consistently produce a team that is strong in all divisions.

The club has received tremendous support from both within and outside its membership. Chief of these is the late Donald Bean who actively encouraged participation by consistently replenishing the club’s equipment. With money left in his legacy, the club is working towards a full rebuild of the clubhouse to ensure its presence in Westbridge Park well into the future.

Photo: Phil Gooding

Photo: Lizzie Neave

Photo: bronze medal winners