Six-times World Champion opens new watersports centre

Six-times world canoe marathon champion, Anna Hemmings, opened a new watersports centre in Trentham on Wednesday, 23rd September.

 

Trentham Watersports Association’s (TWA) £400k new boathouse and associated facilities set by the lake within the Trentham Estate is home to three canoeing and rowing clubs: Trentham Canoe Club, Trentham Boat Club and Eccleshall Scouts. The three groups have been fundraising and securing grants for the past three years to realise their dream of a purpose-built boat store and changing rooms.

 

TWA’s Chair, Ken Walters, says: “This opening ceremony marks the end of a long journey to get our own purpose-built facilities. It will be a celebration of all those who have helped us to get this far. The new boathouse is infinitely better than our old temporary shed at the other end of the lake.”

Anna Hemmings was joined by 70 guests including representatives from Sport England, the British Canoe Union, the Amateur Rowing Association, St Modwen's, councillors and various funders and supporters to mark the official opening. 40 children, who regularly use the facilities, were on the water whilst the guests toured the lake on the Miss Elizabeth passenger boat.

 

Anna Hemmings, who has recently retired from competitive canoeing, has competed at two Olympic Games and has 11 World and European Championship titles. She defied medical experts by overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2005 to return to sport and win her final three World titles.

 

 

Canoeing Community Sports Coach and TWA Secretary, Ruth Holdway says: “Anna Hemmings is a very inspirational person and was a fantastic sportswomen for our young athletes to meet. She was chatting to them about aiming high and achieving their ambitions.”

 

More details on Anna Hemmings can be found on www.annahemmings.co.uk

 

For more information contact:

 

Ruth Holdway
Trentham Watersports Association
Secretary
Mobile: 07815768360