Georgia Holmes: I've been paddling with my Dad and brothers for as long as I can remember. I started racing canoe slalom when I was 8 and fell in love with the sport, and now my brother has got me into doing wild water racing as well. I really want to get more female paddlers into the sport as for most of my paddling career I was the only girl in my group, and I'd like more people to realise how amazing this sport is.
Female Equality Group
What's it all about?
Addressing the gender imbalance in our sport. Put very simply there are more men paddling than there are women. So we want to encourage more women to take up paddling, and support the development of female friendly, welcoming, supportive and inclusive environments that enable them to get to where they want to be in paddlesport, enjoyably.
What are the group doing?
We are just working that out! At the moment our focus is on exploring initiatives that we feel could have a positive impact on female participation across Scotland. There have been loads of great initiatives across sport already and understanding into what can make a difference is growing, so with confidence we are exploring ideas such as:
- Promoting role models
- Increasing female representation in positions of influence
- Delivering a mentoring program
- Supporting female specific communities and spaces
- Education on how to make what we do ‘female friendly’
- Increasing presence of females within our imagery and activity
How can I help?
Get involved! Our next step is to select the initiatives that we think will have the greatest impact and we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. If there are any projects/topics you would like to get involved in please do let us know as we’ll be looking for volunteers moving forwards.
Please contact us at
equality@canoescotland.org
Female Equality Group Meetings
The Female Equality Group meet (online) about once every two months. We discuss things that can be done to encourage more females into paddling, and enable more females to find the enjoyment and progressions in paddlesport that they desire.
Check out the updates from our most recent meetings below. If you want to help please do get in touch! If there are any projects/topics you would like to get involved in please do let us know as we’ll be looking for volunteers moving forwards. Please contact us at equality@canoescotland.org
Who's on the committee?
Ellie Seed: I'm into pretty much any discipline that means I can kayak that day, however I've found whitewater to be the most fun. I started kayaking at university and it's given me good excuses to go far and wide. My proudest achievement is making Team GB in Wild Water Racing and I want to encourage as many people as possible to take part and experience everything they can to the fullest.
Emily Hamilton-Peach: My paddling journey started splashing about with the Scouts at a young age, then as soon as I was old enough, I spent each summer coaching at local activity centres. Wizz forward a bit, and now, after the past few years running sea kayaking expeditions abroad, I've landed in Perth to work full-time with Willowgate Activity Centre. I'm excited to join the group to help women paddlers feel confident jumping out of their comfort zone to enjoy paddling the way I do; whether that's challenging environments or a day trip with a picnic. I'm excited to work together to get paddlesport as inclusive as possible!
Jess Philip: I have been a keen paddler for most of my life. I really love the people I get to meet and the places paddling takes me. I first started as a white water kayaker and have now branched out into river and expedition SUP paddling. The Highlands is my home currently as I work as an instructor at Loch Eil outward bound. I am greatful to be part of the British Canoeing #shepaddles ambasadors and the Female Equality group. My main passion in this group is to connect and form a stronger female community within Scotland. Also I'd love to meet and get out paddling with some of you in the future.
Lara Cooper: I grew up paddling, started as a kid racing in Canoe Slalom, then got into White Water kayaking (paddling, exploring and coaching), and now love my Sea Kayaking. My professional career is also firmly set in paddlesport as Coach Educator, Qualification Developer and Trainer supporting the SCA. I am delighted to be part of the SCA Female Equality Group, I am particularly passionate about supporting female paddlers, coaches and providers to thrive in our sport, whilst also championing a 50:50 representation.
Hannah Moore: I started paddling when I was 11 years old and have never looked back since! I would love to help more young people, girls and women get involved and inspired by kayaking, as it has made a massive difference to my life. I enjoy sea and whitewater paddling and I love hearing about other people's kayaking adventures across Scotland and beyond.
Bethan Radcliffe: I've been paddling for over 10 years and have moved across multiple disciplines, from marathon and sprint to whitewater and now polo. It's always been my go-to way to find a community when moving around the country! I began playing canoe polo at Dundee University and I currently play with the Titans Canoe Club where I'm proud to be Captain of the Valkyries, Scotland's first women's polo team since the pandemic. I'd love to take my enthusiasm and help support women across all aspects of watersports, reaching out and developing female-friendly spaces within which the sport can thrive.
Emily Bowie: I started whitewater kayaking as part of my University club in 2017, and enjoyed exploring rivers in Scotland and the Alps. These days I prefer more slow moving water and lochs! Kayaking has provided me with many opportunities for personal development, and I am excited to be part of Equality Groups so that I can help to make kayaking and watersports accessible to all, so that everyone has access to the opportunity to participate, regardless of their background, gender, race, or any other factors.
Leeanne Mackay: I've been paddling for around 5 years now after trying it for the first time in New Zealand and absolutely falling in love with the feeling of freedom that it gave me. I love paddling along the coast in Nairn; there is so much to see and the connections I've made through the sport are incredible. I now run a small SUP business and I thoroughly enjoy supporting people to achieve their goals. Some of the feedback that I've had from my female paddlers is that they felt unsure about going to a male coach and were pleased that I was there to support them, this is why I feel it's important to be involved in the Female Equality Group. I'm hoping I can positively contribute to the group and support more female paddlers to take up coaching and leadership roles within the sport.
