In Celebration of Man

There was an old saying "Behind every great man there is a great woman".

I've been thinking a lot lately about the reverse of this: the men that have supported me through my paddling & working life.  

Anyone that knows me is very aware that I am a passionate advocate of gender equality, and particularly in the case of women who want to advance in male-dominated environments.  I've had three careers, personally, all very male-dominated.  And of course, the support of other women is critical in those environments, and female role models help enormously in making progress when you are among the first - or one of very few- women to achieve something.  

However, it is my belief - and some may find this a controversial view- that it's just as important, if not more so, to have supportive and forward-thinking men around you in these environments. 

In planning the Women's Essential Sea Kayaking Weekend I've thought about this subject a lot, an event that is being organised by myself and two male sea kayak coaches who I admire and respect enormously- so I thought I might share, and celebrate, a few examples of the extraordinary men who have supported me in my kayaking career. 

First up:  Matt Haydock.  Many of you will know that Matt & I work and play together a lot: Matt has been supportive of me in a number of ways since the day we met, and is constantly encouraging.  His belief that I - or any other of his female paddling friends & colleagues for that matter - can achieve just the same as the guys, is unshakeable. ​

Dave Rossetter.  Dave mentored me through my Performance Coach & Advanced Water Sea Kayak Coach awards, and included me in Glenmore Lodge staff training before I started to work for our National Centre.  He gave up his own time to be there on the end of an email, or a text message, and to offer advice & encouragement.  Dave actively encourages women - and men too - through the British Canoeing awards scheme.

Doug Cooper:  Doug quietly but determinedly organises the Women in Adventure Sport conference at Glenmore Lodge every autumn, allowing women from across the adventure sports spectrum to come together and share ideas & encouragement. 

Nick Cunliffe & Matt Giblin:  I met and shadowed Nick & Matt for the first time on a Sea Kayak Coach award training course in 2018.  Nick has been a paddling role model of mine for many years...  We got on well, and I suggested the three of us might work together.  Their instant response was: "Fantastic idea - lets run a women's event".

Their support and encouragement in the short time we've known each other has been invaluable and unparalleled. 

J.P. Eatock:  My most recent inspiring and encouraging moment...  On a playday at the Bitches tide race in Pembrokeshire, with J.P. Eatock, who knows the area intimately after years of coaching & guiding there.  We had the wave to ourselves until a large group of young paddlers arrived, mostly male with a couple of females, in playboats & surf kayaks.  J.P. looked me in the eye - a middle-aged woman in a sea kayak- and said simply "You need to go and get on the wave, now...".  His message was small but powerful: set an example, blast away some stereotypes.  Actions speak loudly.  

I'm very lucky these days: I'm surrounded by supportive, forward-thinking male role models.  I've had more than my fair share of sexist experiences too however, in thirty years of working in three very different industries.  In my view if we are to change the way our society works, these wonderful men, who support us when we need it and help us fight our corner in achieving gender equality and challenging unconscious bias both in actions and in words, are not celebrated enough. 

Thanks guys, I couldn't do it without you.