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The Committee: Meet the Coaches
OUR COMMITTEE
The People Who Make Our Team Amazing...

Sam Buttle
Co-Captain
Your source of inspiration?
"The people who built a legacy of a club with a culture that I want to help continue - and being able to help others be part of something that makes them smile"
Seagods who inspired you the most?
"Ruaraidh Smeaton. We’ve had many great captains, but he was one who helped motivate me to be better than I ever thought I could. "
Your source of inspiration?
"The people who built a legacy of a club with a culture that I want to help continue - and being able to help others be part of something that makes them smile"
Seagods who inspired you the most?
"Ruaraidh Smeaton. We’ve had many great captains, but he was one who helped motivate me to be better than I ever thought I could. "

Richard Helliker
Co-Captain
What do you love about Seagods?
"I enjoy that you instantly have 50+ likeminded friends who enjoy life. Race days are also something special. "
What important aspect can you share throughout your Seagods years?
"Its important to have a sport that allows you to have fun off the water as well as on it. "
What do you love about Seagods?
"I enjoy that you instantly have 50+ likeminded friends who enjoy life. Race days are also something special. "
What important aspect can you share throughout your Seagods years?
"Its important to have a sport that allows you to have fun off the water as well as on it. "

Chris Barnes
Vice-captain and Treasurer
What do you love about Seagods?
"The people"
What inspires you to paddle with Seagods?
"Laughing drinking and winning. "
What do you love about Seagods?
"The people"
What inspires you to paddle with Seagods?
"Laughing drinking and winning. "

Gareth Griffiths
Fitness God
What made you join Seagods?
"Jo Eades"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"Inflicting pain :P "
What made you join Seagods?
"Jo Eades"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"Inflicting pain :P "

Jonathan Csanyi-Fritz
Secretary
What inspires you to be a Seagod?
"I love that the team is competitive yet maintains a fun atmosphere."
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"I wanted to give back and help the team succeed!"
What inspires you to be a Seagod?
"I love that the team is competitive yet maintains a fun atmosphere."
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"I wanted to give back and help the team succeed!"

Jessica Chu
Sponsorship Goddess
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Work hard and have fun!"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"To give back to this lovely team"
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Work hard and have fun!"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"To give back to this lovely team"

Hugh Allman
Sponsorship God
What do you love about Seagods?
"Amazing team spirit; everyone is super competitive, but all enjoy a drink at the end of training/races. "
What inspires you to paddle with Seagods?
"The team spirit and race day excitement...and the first beer after any training session"
What do you love about Seagods?
"Amazing team spirit; everyone is super competitive, but all enjoy a drink at the end of training/races. "
What inspires you to paddle with Seagods?
"The team spirit and race day excitement...and the first beer after any training session"

Eliza Man
Social Seagoddess
What made you join Seagods?
"I was blown away about how welcoming everyone made me feel. I signed up to Seagods the following season and it has been the best decisions that I have made since moving to HK."
What do you love about Seagods?
"Seagods really is like a family. Some of my favourite memories have been with Seagods. I love our competitive spirit but that we can have so much fun together. "
What made you join Seagods?
"I was blown away about how welcoming everyone made me feel. I signed up to Seagods the following season and it has been the best decisions that I have made since moving to HK."
What do you love about Seagods?
"Seagods really is like a family. Some of my favourite memories have been with Seagods. I love our competitive spirit but that we can have so much fun together. "

Marie Phillips
Social Seagoddess
What do you love about Seagods?
"The people. Seagods are a culturally diverse team, inclusive and collaborative. I've met and made friends with some amazing people through Seagods. They make land and water training fun and you feed off the energy specially when sessions are particularly torturous! Races are fantastic, Seagods' support for each other is legendary. "
If there’s one current/past member of the team who inspired you the most, tell us whom and why?
"Jo Eades. She had incredible energy and drive. I remember Jo running from Mui Wo to Disco Bay with the Sea Dogs before the start of training camp couple of years ago. She was one of the longest serving Seagods until she left this year, her collection of Seagods race kits is one to aspire to. Loved watching clips of her drumming one of the Seagods boats to victory."
What do you love about Seagods?
"The people. Seagods are a culturally diverse team, inclusive and collaborative. I've met and made friends with some amazing people through Seagods. They make land and water training fun and you feed off the energy specially when sessions are particularly torturous! Races are fantastic, Seagods' support for each other is legendary. "
If there’s one current/past member of the team who inspired you the most, tell us whom and why?
"Jo Eades. She had incredible energy and drive. I remember Jo running from Mui Wo to Disco Bay with the Sea Dogs before the start of training camp couple of years ago. She was one of the longest serving Seagods until she left this year, her collection of Seagods race kits is one to aspire to. Loved watching clips of her drumming one of the Seagods boats to victory."

Ruth Palmer
Social Seagoddess
Favorite Seagods' moment/s?
"Race days we prove what we're willing to do for each other. Never mind the Big Effing Cups - I've been blown away by the camaraderie in the boat, no matter the result! You guys... (sobs) "
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Hang on to your butts (and kiss goodbye to the skin just below your buttcheeks), because getting to grips with paddling Seagods-style is quite a ride. But you couldn't be doing it with a more supportive team behind, in front of and beside you."
Favorite Seagods' moment/s?
"Race days we prove what we're willing to do for each other. Never mind the Big Effing Cups - I've been blown away by the camaraderie in the boat, no matter the result! You guys... (sobs) "
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Hang on to your butts (and kiss goodbye to the skin just below your buttcheeks), because getting to grips with paddling Seagods-style is quite a ride. But you couldn't be doing it with a more supportive team behind, in front of and beside you."

Amy Carey
Social Seagoddess
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Don't swim into rocks!"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"I'm Irish, drinking is in my blood ;)"
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Don't swim into rocks!"
What inspired you to take on your committee role?
"I'm Irish, drinking is in my blood ;)"

Amy De Vera "ADV"
Social Media Goddess
Seagods who inspired you the most?
"The legendary Jo Eades, Ruaraidh Smeaton, Kate McAllister, forever grateful to you all for inspiring us with the Seagods culture and legacy!"
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Stay humble, be kind, mutual respect to one another and whatever you do, give all your best and dedicate to your loved ones! Always be positive and have fun every single moment! When in doubt, look back and think about your Seagods family and the paddling community around you."
Seagods who inspired you the most?
"The legendary Jo Eades, Ruaraidh Smeaton, Kate McAllister, forever grateful to you all for inspiring us with the Seagods culture and legacy!"
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Stay humble, be kind, mutual respect to one another and whatever you do, give all your best and dedicate to your loved ones! Always be positive and have fun every single moment! When in doubt, look back and think about your Seagods family and the paddling community around you."

Antonio Perfecto
Beer B*tch
What important aspect can you share throughout your Seagods years?
"Most of my friends all originally started from Seagods - the friendships, memories will last a lifetime. "
If there’s one current/past member of the team who inspired you the most, tell us whom and why?
"Kate McAllister, Captain 2019 - the embodiment of the Seagods tradition, spirit, and attitude"
What important aspect can you share throughout your Seagods years?
"Most of my friends all originally started from Seagods - the friendships, memories will last a lifetime. "
If there’s one current/past member of the team who inspired you the most, tell us whom and why?
"Kate McAllister, Captain 2019 - the embodiment of the Seagods tradition, spirit, and attitude"

Mikel Iturrieta
Seagods Swag / Kit
What do you love about Seagods?
"Seagods is my HK family."
What do you love about Seagods?
"Seagods is my HK family."

Jen Lewsey
Seagods Swag / Kit

Claire Bowden
Training Camp Goddess
What inspires you as a Seagod?
"We paddle as a team, a team that never gives up. Even at the brink of exhaustion you find energy somewhere within to continue and not let your team down. Everyone has each other's backs, no one paddles for themselves. Seagods is a family both in and out of the boat."
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Go to each training session and social with a smile and an open mind and throw yourself fully into both. These Seagods could be your friends for life. "
What inspires you as a Seagod?
"We paddle as a team, a team that never gives up. Even at the brink of exhaustion you find energy somewhere within to continue and not let your team down. Everyone has each other's backs, no one paddles for themselves. Seagods is a family both in and out of the boat."
What is your message to the future Seagods?
"Go to each training session and social with a smile and an open mind and throw yourself fully into both. These Seagods could be your friends for life. "
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