The coaching/trainer team is led by Albert Donovan, an Award-winning Sports Tutor, Technical Advisor and Assessor, who is also qualified to coach and assess Kayak, Open Canoe, Sea, Touring and the Olympic Disciplines of Slalom and Placid Water from beginner to advanced.

Albert Donovan, the Surrey Canoe Club founder, is the Canoe England Coach of the Year 2013 for the South East Region, the London Sports Inclusive Champion 2014 and the UK National Coaching Award Disability Coach of the Year 2014.

Albert Donovan was a presenter at the American Canoe Association Conference 2016.

Ian enjoys coaching and paddling the river Thames. In his own words “there is so much variety, from a peaceful paddle at Chertsey to the tidal rush at Tower Bridge, London”.

He is a British Canoe Level 3 coach and he also holds BC Leader and L3 Safeguarding qualifications.

He has a lot of experience in touring, sea kayaking and white water.

Rob has paddled on and off for many years, he enjoys exploring new waterways and introducing people to paddling. He has varying levels of experience across several paddlesport disciplines, holding Personal Paddle awards in Touring and Canoeing. Rob is a qualified Paddlesport instructor and holds an outdoor first aid accreditation.

Ross joined the club in 2013, looking for a different sport to be involved in following a cycling accident.

He achieved the 3-star open canoe award and the coaching qualification in 2015.

He enjoys helping others reach their full potential in a club that provides equal opportunities for all. He has also volunteered his time to help set up the river site from an overgrown piece of waste ground to what you see today.

Cindy started paddling as a youngster with her brother’s Scout group. She loved her first bulky red kayak to pieces. In her teens, her father replaced it with a new double kayak, and kayaking was a family activity. Cindy seized paddling in adulthood until her daughter joined the local Guides group. She loved getting back into boats and rekindling her love of kayaking. She eventually became an instructor and Leader for the group. Cindy moved to Surrey Canoe Club six years ago.

In her own words, “I am free not only to teach some of the most enthusiastic and kind kayakers but to develop my own personal skills, and I’ve made some incredible friends along the way.”