The current committee (2024-2025) are:
Chairman: Mark Gillett
Treasurer: Rolo Wardon
Secretary & Membership: John Wimperis
Welfare Officer: Genny Sargent
Committee members:
- Equipment – Robin. Wilson
- General Paddling – Dave Brain
- Polo – Rolo Warden
- Racing – Mark Heeley
- Safety – Niamh Conole
- Social – Sasha (Alex) Deane
- Welfare & GK – Genny Sargent
- WW – Lucy Townsend
- NP – Steve Bennett
- NPY – Mark Hamilton
Brief biographies
Mark Gillett (Chair)
I built my first canoe in glass-fibre at the tender age of 14 whereupon I started paddling on lakes, the sea and some rivers in Cumbria. I joined Bristol Canoe Club in 1978 prior to University, where I paddled slalom and WW for several years. Some 11 years after University, I returned to Bristol and re-joined the Club getting to know many members who also went on river trips to the Alps, Norway, Scotland and the Grand Canyon. More recently I have been organising Canoe Polo within the Club, where we have developed several teams who competed in the National and SW Leagues.
This is my third year as Chair of the Club and I look forward to welcoming new members to our Club and developing the club in general.
Rolo Warden (Treasurer)
John Wimperis (Secretary)
David Brain
I’ve paddled for nearly 30 years, at sea and on white water, gaining British Canoeing L3K Sea & Inland, plus UKCC L2 coaching qualifications along the way. (Although I’m old and rusty enough to limit myself to Class 3 these days!). Kayaking and open-canoeing has taken me to many rivers and coastlines of the UK, plus a few more in Europe, the USA and Asia. I feel privileged to have paddled in so many beautiful and challenging environments – although my Registered Sight Impaired status has made some of my experiences a bit too exiting for comfort!
Mark Heeley
My racing canoeing journey began at 13 with Harlow Canoe Club. After a detour into snow skiing and windsurfing, I rediscovered my passion for paddling with Bristol Canoe Club in 1997, racing marathon, sprint, and now also ocean surf ski. Bristol Harbour, with its unique character and stunning cityscapes is a constant inspiration. After serving as Racing Representative on and off the committee for many years , I returned in 2022 to reinvigorate club training and the growth of our racing section. Whether you’re an experienced racing paddler or want to discover more about this discipline, please do get in contact via the club email address: racing-enquires@bristolcanoeclub.org.uk
Genny Sargent
Despite growing up in Bristol, I didn’t start kayaking until I moved to Bangor, North Wales, for university in 2015. I did mostly white water whilst I was at Bangor and loved it, went on all the trips I could whilst I was there and participated in the varsity competitions all 3 years. After Bangor I had a year abroad in Bergen, Norway where I’d heard great things about the white water out there. Unfortunately I lived far enough away from the good white water that I didn’t get to do much of it and instead joined a sea kayaking and canoe polo club. This was equally great and gave me a new appreciation for these disciplines of kayaking that I hadn’t previously tried. I moved back from Norway the start of 2020, just before the pandemic hit and didn’t do much kayaking at all before I joined Bristol canoe club in May 2021. Since I joined I’ve been to the harbour sessions, a few easy river paddles and more recently the Lake District trip. I’m keen to see what the coming year as part of the committee has to hold!
Lucy Townsend
Apart from once on a girlguiding trip aged about 10, I had not sat in a kayak until my first year of uni where the Bath uni club sent us up the Avon. I was at the back of the pack paddling in circles but had the best time and knew it was a really special sport. Since then, I have had some of my favourite memories (good and bad!) as a result of being involved in kayaking. Whether that be kayaking whitewater in France, Switzerland and Austria (pro) or getting binned by the wind in Wales during a polo match in March (con), I love kayaking and all the experiences and people it brings with it.
I joined BCC about a year and a half ago and have really enjoyed getting to know everyone and improving my skills.
You will often find me in the shallow end of my pool teaching people the basics to make kayaking as accessible and inclusive as possible. I am whitewater rep this year and am excited to be on committe. Come say hi!
Steve Bennett
Here is my history so far….
“From the age of seven I paddled hire canoes on Eastville Park Lake in Bristol. When I was 12 and on the Bristol Central District Scouts camp at Biblins Symonds Yat, I paddled the rapids in a canvas double and was hooked. I have paddled ever since with scouts. In 1979 I paddled my first marathon K2 race with my brother Alan as part of the Bristol Endeavour Group (BEG) team in the 50mile race from London to Northampton.
Between 1981-1984 BEG bought four K2s and moved the kayak base from Raleigh Road, Bedminster, to the Baltic Wharf and secured a storage space in the Dutch Barn. I constructed the first wooden rack for the new racing kayaks – ‘The Endeavour Rack’, which we still use today. In 1986 BCC’s Tony Cox bought 12 top spec racing boats, but no one in BCC was able to paddle these. BEG and I joined BCC to benefit from using these fabulous new racing boats.
In the 90s we secured ‘The Cage’, called that because it was constructed using wire mesh and angle iron. My dad George Bennett made and welded the lock up door which we all still use today.
With the combined BEG BCC teams we set new course records many times. We still hold the overall course record for the Endeavour Race.
In 2005 I won the marathon paddlers first senior national championship gold medal paddling with Tristram Turner at Worcester. We won the national championships again in 2006 in Reading. I have supported a number of DW paddlers over the years. In 2016 Tristram Turner won the DW a second time paddling with Peter Maycock (Exeter), supported by myself and Sara. I always loved and looked forward to the Exe Descent Race. Before it was stopped, it was one of the highlights of the national marathon racing calendar; 19 miles with nine major weirs from Tiverton to Exeter. The thrills and spills were unrivalled. I achieved two fourth place finishes and never outside the top ten. In one memorable year we broke the K2 in two on Cowley Steps Weir and ran two miles to the finish where we dived in again to cross the line with half a boat each! I have also had many fabulous races abroad including the Sella Descent in Spain, the Ardeche Descent in France, and the Grande Premio Kayak de Mar in Portugal.
Lately I have enjoyed surfski paddling and racing which has been made more accessible by Mark Ressel at Icon Sports. Through kayaking I have made many great friends. It would please me to be able to pass on my experience to paddlers that wish to progress and new members.”
Mark Hamilton
While living in New Zealand, I started regular paddling in 2003 with the aim of competing in the annual Coast to Coast multi-sport race. This, due to injury, never happened, but succeeded in opening my eyes to the fantastic excitement and physical challenges paddling offers. Moving to Bristol in 2005 started my journey into K2 marathon as a form of relaxation from a demanding job. Most years have seen me paddling the floating harbour and I have now completed the Devizes to Westminster 3 times in senior doubles with a K1 and C2 finish over shortened courses. Several failures have also taught valuable lessons about training and resilience.
Family holidays have often involved some paddling and I tempted my wife Julie into marathon racing in 2022. In May 2025 we were lucky enough to paddle 470 miles down the Loire from Roanne to St Nazaire in training for successfully completing the Yukon 1000 in July. These (and DW) are wonderful experiences that I hope can encourage others to fulfill their own dreams. Just keep going and have a good time. (I’m on the left below!)
Robin Wilson
I first sat in a kayak aged 8 or 9 on High Dam Tarn in the Lake District on our annual family camping holiday at Finsthwaite where my parents were leaders for a Church youth camp.
In the mid 1980’s, age 13, I paddled regularly at school as part of the school outdoor club, this progressed to local slalom training & competitions at Stafford & Stone Canoe Club.
By age 17 I had competed at my home club in Stone and most slalom venues across the midlands, North Wales & Yorkshire, including Holme Pierrepont (when the concrete was still fresh) I progressed through the Slalom divisions from Novice to Division 2. I also competed in Slalom Division 4 in C1 & C2.
In my early 20’s I spent 2 summers in Bude & taught kayaking, canoeing, climbing & surfing to school groups & completed Kayak Instructor Qualifications, I experienced the Dart loop, the Exe & the Barle for my first time. My free time in Bude was spent in the sea with a borrowed boat or a wave ski, surfing. I spent a further Summer in Cheddar teaching & completed BCU Senior Instructor training.
In the late 1990’s I worked in Yorkshire & joined a local club & paddled the Wharfe, Ouse, Tees Barrage & several other northern rivers.
I joined BCC sometime around 2003 & have paddled on & off depending on shiftwork & family life. I’ve paddled whitewater in France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland & a brief period of flat-water paddling prior to competing at the World Firefighter Games in 2008.
I’ve been on the committee previously & now have more time to commit to the role & looking forward to the future & how we can develop the club & its facilities.