GEOFF SANDERS AWARD

In discussing an award in memory of Geoff in 2003 the regional team highlighted the many aspects of Geoff’s lifetime service to our sport, a vast amount of which was behind the scenes and often took the form of quietly encouraging and supporting those of us who did not have the benefit of his vast experience.

A point he was often heard to make in congratulating various volunteer groups or speaking as a guest at club dinners was that, whilst we could be proud of many achievements we were, almost without exception, not very good at spreading the good news to the non canoeing public.

Some years ago he awarded his Solihull Canoe Club President’s Trophy to the editor of the club newsletter stressing in his citation the importance of telling the general public the good work the club was doing and the Development Team have therefore proposed that the annual Geoff Sanders Award should be presented to the club or group demonstrating best practise in this area.

A small panel of RDT committee members looks forward to receiving copies of any items which clubs consider representative of good practice on spreading the good word and presents a short list to Mrs Nora Sanders for final selection.

In November Mrs Sanders telephoned a member of the team enthusing about a BBC item from the Midlands Unsung Sporting Heroes series featuring Tibor Herbent of Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club coaching a team at the Avon Descent marathon which she said showed exactly the sort of profile our sport should promote. A video of the item was shown to the RDT and it was agreed that the Geoff Sanders Award for 2007 and a cheque for £100 should be made to Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club.

Clubs are requested to submit any copy or electronic items which they feel demonstrate best practice in “spreading the good word” to the Secretary as they are published, the committee will submit the short list to Mrs Sanders at the end of October in order that the award may be presented at the ACM in November.