Fish of the Year

The most noteworthy or comical swim of the year.

A club member who has achieved the greatest improvement over the past year.  From complete novice to white water, kayak or canoe.

E.g From swimming lots to not swimming lots.

Past Fish of the Year:

2012 - Maria Williams

2013 - Ben Townson

2014 - Trevor Cardy

2015 - Ken Murray (and his mate Dave)

2016 - Neil Gibson

2017 -David Hutcheson

2018- Chris Redmond

2019 - Jake

2020 - Sue Chalmers

2021 - Ian Morrison

Youth Paddler of the Year

Junior club member who has achieved the greatest improvement over the past year, attended many events and contributed to the club.

Past Youth Paddlers:

2012 - Tom Mitchell

2013 - Kirsty Bruce

2014 - Josh Latimer

2015 - Amelia Cardy

2016 - Jessica Cardy

2017 - Lewis Chapman

2018- Claire Aiken

2019 - Sam Cain

2020 - Niamh

2021 - Finn Morrison

The Jonathan Kitching Award 

'Thanks for all the Bothering'

This award can be presented to anyone in the club for helping out.  It is an award decided and presented by the founder Chairman of the club - Jonathan Kitching.

Past Winners

2013 - Donald Silcock

2014 - Gwen Newman

2015 - Christina Cardy

2016 - Mark Mitchell

2017 - Dale Kitching

2018- Harry Burnett

2019 - Chris Remond

2020 - Alix Hutcheson

2021 - Neil Gibson

Aberdeenshire Volunteering Award

June 2019

Chris Redmond

Reason for nomination:

To put it simply: 

Jonathan Kitching is a paddler, coach and inspiration.

The club was the inspiration of local coach, (and River Adviser) Jonathan Kitching who felt that Aboyne had all the requirements for a successful canoe club: friendly community swimming pool, river pool in the village with flat and moving water for training, and of course the 80 varied miles of the River Dee’s whitewater paddling on its doorstep.

The idea was first floated in Aboyne in November 2004 by Jonathan and shortly later the inaugural meeting of Aboyne Canoe Club took place in January 2005.  Ever since then the club as gone from strength to strength.  The club now boast nearly 170 members, more than 50% of them children as one of Jonathans aims when setting up the club was to make it family friendly.

On 16th February Jonathan Kitching will step down as chair after 8 years of founding, running and coaching with the club.

Achievements to date:

Over the years since Jan 2005:

Fundraising to buy a large amount of equipment including paddles, buoyancy aids, safety equipment, kayaks and canoes.

A club shed to store all the kit
Many river trips, pool sessions, social events organised in his time as Chair.

Countless members have come and gone over the years with several of the original members still members today.

Highlights in 2012

Highest membership to date.

Nearly 50 events such as river trips, pool sessions and social events that were very well attended by the membership.

Purchase of drysuits for the club.  We used these drysuits to run our own white water safety training.

The club attended their first two Canoe Polo tournaments in Banff.

River Bank litter pick

A website.

Our annual summer get together had a special Olympic theme - ‘Its an Olympic Washout’

Future Targets

I’m sure Jonathan aims to relax from running the club, enjoy paddling and he will continue to coach and inspire paddlers in the club.