About Edwin Smith
Lived 1922 – 1997 (aged 74). Edwin Smith was a New Zealand rower.
Edwin Smith (also known as Ted; 17 September 1922 – 15 January 1997) was a New Zealand rower who won a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games as part of the New Zealand men's eight.
Biography Smith was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 17 September 1922.
Smith served with the New Zealand 24th Battalion in Italy and Egypt.
Smith became a member of the West End Rowing Club, joining the December 1948 eight crew as bow. In 1949 this crew became Red Coats by winning the New Zealand Premier Eight Championships at Karapiro.
The crew became the New Zealand Empire Games Eight and underwent strenuous training on the Waikato River at Mercer and Ngāruawāhia and on lake Karapiro. The boat to be used at the Empire Games was the tried and true Charles G. Herdman, a one piece Towns Skiff owned by West End Rowing Club. New Ayling oars with larger "spoons" were acquired.
At the 1950 British Empire Games he won a silver medal rowing in the bow as part of the men's eight alongside crew members Donald Adam, Kerry Ashby, Murray Ashby, Bruce Culpan, Thomas Engel, Grahame Jarratt, Don Rowlands and Bill Tinnock. In a tight race, the New Zealand eight were beaten by Australia by a margin of , recording a time of 6:27.5, 0.5 seconds behind the winning boat.
Smith later served as a coach for West End Rowing Club, on the club's executive committee and as a starter for rowing regattas. In honour of his services, he became an elected honorary member of the rowing club and later a vice-president.
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Important facts
People in Edwin Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Edwin Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Edwin Smith?
New Zealand rower
When was Edwin Smith born?
Edwin Smith was born on 17 September 1922 in Auckland.
When did Edwin Smith die?
Edwin Smith died on 15 January 1997 in New Zealand.
What was Edwin Smith's occupation?
Edwin Smith was a rower.
What nationality was Edwin Smith?
Edwin Smith was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Edwin Smith (rower)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edwin Smith. https://biography.guide/edwin-smith-rower/
MLA: "Edwin Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edwin-smith-rower/.
Chicago: "Edwin Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edwin-smith-rower/.
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