The Future of Canoe Marathon Needs You!
Canoe Marathon stands at a pivotal moment.
Recently and over the next 12 months, several key volunteers who have played a crucial role in running and developing the sport are stepping away from their positions. Unless new volunteers come forward, the Marathon Racing Committee’s ability to support international racing, deliver major events and drive development opportunities will be significantly reduced.
This is not a challenge for the committee alone. It is a challenge for the entire marathon community.
The sport we enjoy today exists because volunteers have stepped forward in the past. Every local race, national championship, international team and development opportunity relies on people who are willing to give their time, skills and experience to help others. Without volunteers, Canoe Marathon simply cannot function.
In particular, we would like to thank Mick Nadal, who stepped down from the committee at the July ACM after many years of service. Mick’s expertise in marathon racing rules, safety and Hasler racing has been invaluable, and his knowledge and judgement have helped shape the sport for many years. We would also like to thank Nanette North, who stepped down as Chair of the Canoe Marathon Selection Committee at the end of the 2026 international season. Her professionalism, integrity and unwavering commitment to athletes have been instrumental in delivering fair and effective selection processes during a period of significant change and challenge. Finally, we would like to thank Joanne Bates, who also stepped down from the Canoe Marathon Selection Committee at the end of the 2026 international season. Joanne has played a key role in supporting team selections and assessment races while providing consistent support to athletes, coaches and fellow volunteers. Canoe Marathon is stronger because of the contribution each of these individuals has made.
The reality is that these departures leave a number of essential roles vacant. If they remain unfilled, there will be a direct impact on what the sport can deliver in the future.
To continue providing international opportunities, supporting national events and developing the sport across the UK, we urgently need volunteers in the following roles:
- Chair, Canoe Marathon Selection Committee – Lead the committee responsible for athlete selection to international championships. This role would suit someone with experience of international competition, an understanding of policy and governance, and the ability to make fair, balanced decisions under pressure.
- Members, Canoe Marathon Selection Committee – Support the athlete selection process and help ensure decisions are transparent, consistent and in the best interests of the sport. This is a non-MRC committee role.
- Athlete Representative, Canoe Marathon Selection Committee – Provide an athlete perspective within the selection process and help promote transparency and accountability. This role would be particularly suited to someone who has recently competed internationally or been through the selection process but is no longer seeking selection. This is a non-MRC committee role.
- Short Course Nationals Lead – Help oversee the planning and delivery of one of the sport’s flagship events. Full support, guidance and handover will be provided by the major events team and previous lead.
- Rules Lead – Help maintain and develop the rules that underpin fair, safe and successful marathon racing. This role would suit someone with strong attention to detail, a good understanding of marathon racing and confidence working with written documents.
We are also looking for volunteers in the following areas:
- Junior Development – Help support the next generation of marathon athletes by working alongside the current lead to develop opportunities for young paddlers and improve athlete retention and enjoyment.
- International Logistics – Support the planning and administration of travel, accommodation and other arrangements for international teams. A great role for someone organised, methodical and good at coordination.
- Development Leads (Para, U23 and Senior) – We welcome conversations with anyone interested in helping drive participation, athlete development and performance within these areas.
- Communications Support – Help share the stories of our sport through the website and social media channels, supporting an area of work that is currently heavily reliant on a single volunteer.
If none of these roles feel like the right fit, we would still like to hear from you. Many responsibilities can be shared, projects can be broken into smaller tasks and there are numerous ways to support the sport without taking on a major position.
We are particularly keen to hear from younger members of the marathon community who may be interested in shadowing existing volunteers. Several committee members are approaching retirement from their roles over the coming years, and succession planning is essential if we are to secure the long-term future of the sport.
The Marathon Racing Committee meets in person only twice each year, with two additional online meetings. Most work is carried out flexibly via email, allowing volunteers to contribute around work, family and paddling commitments.
The future of Canoe Marathon will not be determined by the committee alone. It will be determined by whether enough people across our community are willing to step forward and help. If you value the opportunities this sport provides, now is the time to get involved.
To express an interest, ask a question or arrange an informal conversation, please contact Sally Hartland, MRC Secretary, as soon as possible.
The future of Canoe Marathon depends on the willingness of our community to step forward. Every contribution matters, and together we can ensure a strong, sustainable and successful future for the sport.