Clubs devastated by coach's death

By [pcorrigan]

COLLEAGUES of a canoeing coach who died suddenly abroad have spoken of their shock at her death.

Ruth Holdway died on Sunday after suffering a fall while on a walking holiday in Madeira.

The 29-year-old, pictured, was a key member of Trentham, and Stafford and Stone canoe clubs.

Senior coaches at both clubs have spoken of their shock.

Philip Gooding, chairman of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, had known Ruth since she was 11, when he taught her how to paddle.

He said: "Ruth has been a key part of our club, as she was our community coach and the editor of our newsletter. Our membership is around 160, and half of them have been taught by Ruth at some point.

"We had our regular club night on Tuesday, and the mood was obviously very sombre.

"But we did have a paddle, as it was what Ruth would have wanted. She would have liked people to have carried on with the sport she loved.

"Ruth was never one to be beaten by anything. She lived life to the full."

Ruth helped found Trentham Canoe Club in 2006, and as secretary of Trentham Watersports Association she was instrumental in the efforts to establish its new, £350,000 boathouse.

Keith Sunderland, chairman of Trentham Canoe Club, said: "The coaches at the club are all devastated. Some can't comprehend what's happened to Ruth.

"I helped found the club with Ruth four years ago, and she has built it up from absolutely nothing. Now we have all the equipment, and the new boathouse, and it's all largely down to Ruth's commitment.

"Whatever she did, she did with the club's best interests at heart. She worked with children in all age groups, as well as disabled people and those with learning difficulties. She was canoeing seven days a week."

Ruth, of Stone Road, Trentham, also volunteered as a canoeing instructor for Scouts and Guides in Staffordshire, and helped pupils on GCSE PE courses at Trentham High School and St Joseph's College.

Among the awards Ruth received for her coaching work was third prize in the Tom Brennan Service to Sport category in the 2008 Sentinel Sport Award.

Former Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Tom Brennan, who presented Ruth with the prize, said: "I didn't know her personally, but through meeting her at the sports awards I knew that she was a wonderful example of what sport it all about."

Ruth had been on holiday with her parents Paul and Kathleen, who were expected to return to the UK yesterday.

Terry Clifton, aged 72, who lives next door to the Holdway family, said: "Ruth was a lovely girl, clever and interested in lots of different things.

"She enjoyed sport, particularly canoeing and walking. She was a brave girl.

"She beat cancer and spent a lot of time raising money for cancer charities.

"She packed a terrific amount into such a short life.

"It's a terrible shame and waste of a life."