Christopher D Shinners
Sydney University Boat Club (NSW) and currently Banks Rowing Club (VIC)
Born 8 June 1952
Chris is a consummate athlete with his well honed natural ability and skill still evident today at 70 years old. He is a joy to row with in masters crews.
Being a South Australian country lad, Chris' rowing commenced as a border at Scotch College Adelaide. He was not altogether a sporting type having not succeeded in ball sports. Upon arriving at the school as a border in Year 10, he was told to get on the rowing bus tomorrow with his kit. This was not a matter for discussion or encouragement, it was an order. Obviously the senior boy providing the direction had concluded that his physique was well suited to the sport. It was a fortuitous occurrence as Chris had finally found the sport that suited him and he was good at it. Ever since he got on that rowing bus, he has never been off it.
When his mother moved to Sydney, Chris followed and joined Sydney University Boat Club. He initially raced successfully winning the State Championship junior four with Steve Newnham, Ted O'Loughlin, Austin Curtin and Joe Donnelly in a four.
Memorable races?
From 1972, Chris has good memories of the Riverview Gold Cup win against a crew based on the 1972 Olympic Eight. It was an exciting race and one which had the added joy of being the underdogs. The last race in the Colts series against New Zealand was also "a ripper race" because it was against a crew based on the New Zealand Olympic eight and very competitive. The NSW crew was a length in front in the final stages when the rudder strings sadly broke on the New Zealand eight.
Not so memorable was the the 1973 season when SUBC won every race except the Championship. Nor was the 1976 domestic season memorable finishing third in the State Championships with the top first three crews coming across the line within 3 feet of each other. SUBC only gained one member into the State team that year and it was the cause of Chris, and long term pair partner Ian Luxford, rowing their pair.
However the 1974 season and the later part of the 1976 season were memorable for all the right reasons. In 1974, SUBC won the State Championship eight for the first time in about 25 years and he also stroked the winning King's Cup crew. This season firmly established Chris as a national level senior oarsman.
The European racing before the 1976 Olympic Games was also a highlight, specifically the Silver Goblets win at Henley Royal Regatta. They broke the course record and it would be 13 years before it was broken again, and only then by none other than Pinsent and Redgrave.
In summary, Chris was a highly successful rower winning six Interstate and National Championships, being an Australian representative rower at World Championships, winning the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal and being an Olympian.
Chris hoisted high by his team mates after being presented with the King's Cup by the Victorian Governor in 1974 at Ballarat
1976 National Champions, Str: Chris Shinners and Bow: Ian Luxford
1976 Olympic Pair - Str: Chris Shinners, Bow: Ian Luxford
So what has kept him in the sport so long? "It is the beauty of the sport, having a good row and a good race." Combining the significant physicality required with the movement of the boat. Camaraderie also plays a big part in it as well. His masters rowing partnership with Jim Lowe comes up for special mention.
Not only is Chris an excellent rower, but also a writer and poet. Although the author did not know about this angle to Chris before undertaking the research, it was not surprising given his calm demeanour and nature.
Some details
1969 - SA Head of the River, Scotch College 1st eight - Second
1970 - SA Head of the River, Scotch College 1st eight - Second
1971 - NSW Championships, Men's Junior Four, stroke - First
1971 – Australian University Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat – Second
1972 – Australian University Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke – Second
1972 – National Championships Men’s Junior Eight, stroke – First
1972 – NSW Colts Eight, Stroke – First at Wellington & Wanganui regattas
1973 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat - Fourth
1974 – NSW Champion Eight, stroke – First
1974 – National Championships Men’s Coxed Pair, bow - Second
1974 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke - First
1974 – World Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke – Eighth
1975 – NSW Champion Coxed Four, three – First
1975 – NSW Champion Coxed Pair, bow – First
1975 – NSW Champion Eight, stroke – First
1975 – National Championships Men’s Coxed Pair, stroke – Second
1975 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke - First
1975 – World Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke – Sixth
1976 – National Championships Men’s Coxless Pair, stroke – First
1976 – Royal Henley Regatta, Men’s Coxless Pair (Silver Goblets), stroke - First
1976 – Olympic Games, men’s Coxless Pair, stroke – eliminated in repechage
1977 – National Championships Men’s Coxed Pair, bow - Second
1977 – National Championships Men’s Coxless Pair, bow – Did not finish after hitting a marker pylon
1977 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Eight, bow - First
1977 – Australian University Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke – Sixth
1978 – Australian University Championships, Men’s scull – First
1978 – National Championships, Men’s Junior Scull - First
1978 – National Championships Men’s Coxed Pair, bow - Second
1978 – National Championships Men’s Double Scull, bow - Second
1979 – Australian University Championships, Men’s scull – Second
1979 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Scull – Eliminated in SF (sunk)
1980 – Victorian Championships Men’s Scull – Sixth
1980 – National Championship Men’s Coxless Pair, stroke – Second
1980 – National Championship Men’s Coxless Four, three seat – Second
1981 – NSW Champion Coxless Pair, stroke – First
1981 – NSW Champion Coxed Pair, stroke – First
1981 – National Championship Men’s Coxless Pair, stroke – Third
1981 – National Championship Men’s Coxed Pair, stroke – Second
1981 – National Championship Men’s Coxless Four, three seat – Third
1982 – National Championship Men’s Coxless Four, three seat – Fourth
Whilst his youthful rowing was very good, his extraordinary achievements in masters rowing are outstanding. Some of his masters achievements, specifically his interstate representation, may never be bettered. He started a magnificent partnership with Jim Lowe of Banks in about 1997, and they raced successfully ever since in all the sweep classes.
His masters races are too numerous to mention. But to date, he raced well over 400 masters races winning about 80% of them and finishing second in almost all the other races. Like his old pair partner Ian Luxford, he doesn't know how to lose.
He has raced extensively overseas, also with great success.
2017 FISA Masters at Bled
1997 - FISA World Masters, Adelaide, D8 - First, C2, C2x, C8 - Second
1999 - FISA World Masters, Seville, C2, C4+, D4+ - First
2002 - World World Masters Games, C8, E4+ -First, D4-, D4+ - Second
2005 - World Masters Games, Edmonton, D2, D4+, D8 - First
2009 - World Masters Games, Sydney, D4+ - First, D8 - Third
2013 - World Masters Games, Turin, F4-, F8 - First, D4-, D4+ - Second
2015 - FISA World Masters, Hazelwinkel, F4-, F4+, G4-, G4+, G8, I8 - First, F2- - Second
2016 - FISA World Masters, Copenhagen, E4-, E4+, F2, F4-, F8, G8 - First, G4-, G4+
2017 - FISA World Masters, Bled, E2, E4-, E4+, E8, EMixed8, G4+, G8 - First, G4- - Second
2017 - World Masters Games, Lake Karapiro, G4-, E8, F8, G8 - First, E4+ - Second E4- -Third
2018 - FISA World Masters, Sarasota, E8, F4-, F4+, F8, G4-, G4+ G8 - First
Exhausted James Lowe and Chris Shinners celebrate after winning the D pair in Edmonton in 2005
Some other highlights include 13 Interstate Victorian Masters Eights including 9 wins and 4 second placings. In fact Chris has been a member of every winning Victorian masters eight.
2006 winning masters crew with Chris standing on the left
2002 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, seven seat – First
2003 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, seven seat – First
2005 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, seven seat – Second
2006 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, five seat – First
2007 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, five seat – First
2008 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, five seat – First
2009 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, five seat – First
2010 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat – First
2011 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat – First
2012 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, seven seat – First
2013 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat – Second
2014 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, three seat – Second
2015 – Interstate Masters Championships, Men’s Eight, bow – Second
Andrew Guerin
January 2022
Sources:
- Author's and Chris' records
- Interview with Chris January 2022