Chris Arrowsmith

Christopher "Chris" James Arrowsmith born 9 November 1966 at the Royal Naval Hospital Imtarfa, Rabat, Malta is a Great Britain Slalom Canoeist who competed from the late-1970s to the early 1990s. He finished 17th in the C-2 event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Christopher currently lives in Stratford upon Avon.

Christopher, along with the rest of his family, was introduced to Canoeing at a 'Try it' session in the Dorking, Surrey Swimming Pool at the age of 9. He started in competitive canoeing in June 1978, entering the Novice event at Shepperton Weir on the River Thames in Surrey.

Over the next few years along with his Stratford on Avon Kayakists (SOAK) fellow canoeists he competed in all of the canoe competition discipline's of:

Canoe Slalom in the discipline's of Kayak Singles (K1), Canadian Singles (C1) and Canadian Doubles (C2) – in the Canadian classes paddlers kneel in their boat with a small cockpit sealed with a Spraydeck. Chris's Slalom Ranking History is listed below.

(Canoe Polo) – in single Kayak (K1)

(Wild Water Racing) – in Single Kayak (K1)

(Canoe Sprint) – in single Kayak (K1)

(Marathon Canoe Racing) – in Single Kayak (K1)

Chris's Canoe Slalom history:

Canadian Doubles (C2) Ranking and Results – with Paul Brain Year                Division             Ranking/ Result

October 1979        Novice               First Slalom in C2 at Durngate Mill, Winchester 1979                3                    Position 12 1980                3                    Position 22 1981                3                    ??? 1982                 3                    Promoted to Division 2 during the season 1982                2                    Position 13 1982                2                    Promoted to Division 1 during the season 1983                1                    Position 7 1984           Premier                   Position 2 (Premier Division created) 1985   World Champs, Augsberg, Germany   Position 21 1985           Premier                   Position 1 – National Champions 1986    Great Britain Slalom Team        Selected for Team in C2 Class 1986   Europa Cup, Mezzana, Italy        Position 15 1986   Pre World Champs, Bourg St Maurice, France    Position 9 1986           Premier                   Position 1 – National Champions 1987           Premier                   Position 3 1988           Premier                   Position 5 1989   World Champs, Maryland, USA       Position 16 1989           Premier                   Position 3 1990   Pre World Champs, Tacen, Yugoslavia    Position 11 1990           British Open Champions, Llangollen 1990           Premier                   Position 2 1991           Premier                   Position 1 – National Champions 1992       Olympic Games                 Selected for Great Britain Team 1992   World Cup 3, Nottingham           Position 7/18 1992   World Cup 4, Merano,Italy         Position 11/17 1992   World Cup Final Ranking           Position 15/30 1992   Senior Pre World Champs, Mezzana, Italy    Position 8 1992       Olympic Games                 Position 17 1992           Premier                   Position 2 1993           Premier                   Position 7 1993                                     Changed over to Canoe Polo Competition Canadian Singles (C1) Ranking and Results Year                Division                 Ranking/ Result

1985                    1                Ranking Status 1985                    1                Position 3 1986                    1                Position 31 Kayak Singles (K1) Ranking and Results Year                Division                 Ranking/ Result

June 1978           Novice               First Slalom ever at Shepperton Weir on the River Thames 1979                4                    Position 26 – Promoted to Division 3 1980                3                    Position 146 1981                3                    Position 41 – Promoted to Division 2 1981                2                    Promoted to Division 1 during the season 1982                1                    Position 13 Promoted to Premier Division 1982                1                    Pyranha Youth Award    Highest Ranked New Youth in Div 1 1983                                     European Youth Champs Team event – 3rd – Bronze Medal 1983           Premier                   Position 37 1984           Premier                   Position 54 – Demoted to Division 1 1985                1                    Position 29 – Promoted to Premier Division 1986           Premier                   Position 61 – Demoted to Division 1 1987                1                    Position 23 – Promoted to Premier Division 1988           Premier                   Position 70 1989           Premier                   Position 84 – Demoted to Division 1

Canoe Polo Achievements

Date                          Achievement

1988                   Selected for Canoe Polo 1988 International Team Squad Aug 1994               1st at Ieper, Belgium International in the Wimps 1st Team Aug 1995               1st at Ieper, Belgium International in the Wimps 1st Team Jun 2012               Dragons 3rd in Liverpool International Polo Tournament Aug 2012               Dragons 2nd in Div 2 in the GEKKO Canoe Polo International Tournament, Gent, Belgium Jun 2013               Dragons 1st in Liverpool International Polo Tournament Aug 2013               Dragons 3rd in the GEKKO Canoe Polo International Tournament, Gent, Belgium Aug 2014               Dragons 12th in the GEKKO Canoe Polo International Tournament, Gent, Belgium Jun 2015               Dragons 1st in Liverpool International Polo Tournament Aug 2015               Dragons 1st in the GEKKO Canoe Polo International Tournament, Gent, Belgium Jun 2016               Dragons 1st in Liverpool International Polo Tournament Aug 2016               Dragons 14th in the GEKKO Canoe Polo International Tournament, Gent, Belgium Aug 2016               Dragons 4th in London International Polo Tournament Aug 2016               Dragons 11th in the De Paddel Canoe Polo International Tournament, Belgium

Aug 2014       Coaching  Canadian Senior Women 11th at World Championships at Thury Harcourt, France Aug/Sep 2016   Coaching  Canadian Senior Women 8th at World Championships at Syracuse, Italy Dec 2016       Chairperson of Great Britain Canoe Polo Dec 2018       Vice Chairperson Great Britain Canoë Polo