Lionel Smith (athlete)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lionel Robert Smith |
| Born | 18 March 1929 |
| Died | 14 May 2025 (aged 96) Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Sales manager |
| Spouse | Barbara Anne Smith |
| Relative | Kirsten Hellier (daughter) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals |
|
Lionel Robert Hill-Smith (né Smith; 18 March 1929 – 14 May 2025) was a New Zealand hurdler, who represented his country at the 1950 British Empire Games.
Biography
[edit]Smith was educated at Hutt Valley High School in the 1940s, where he was played in the school's 1st XV rugby union team at centre, alongside Ron Jarden.[1][2]
Smith won the New Zealand national 120 yards hurdles title in 1949.[3] He also won the national 220 yards hurdles championship in 1949 and 1950.[4] At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, he finished third in the second heat of the 120 yards hurdles.[5] In the final, he placed sixth.[6]
Hill-Smith's daughter is the New Zealand athlete and coach Kirsten Hellier.[7] He died in Tauranga on 14 May 2025, at the age of 96.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Palenski, Ron. "Jarden, Ronald Alexander". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Legends of the Jubilee Cup: Peter Osborne (University)". Club Rugby. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Hollings, Stephen (December 2016). "National champions 1887–2016" (PDF). Athletics New Zealand. p. 29. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Weekly Roundup – 26 May". Athletics New Zealand. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Aust. 220 triumphs: Jackson and Treloar never troubled". Brisbane Telegraph. 9 February 1950. p. 26. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Athletics 120 yard hurdles – men Auckland 1950". Commonwealth Games Federation. 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Rattue, Chris (26 March 2009). "My life in sport: Kirsten Hellier". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
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- 1929 births
- 2025 deaths
- Athletes from Lower Hutt
- People educated at Hutt Valley High School
- Commonwealth Games athletes for New Zealand
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1950 British Empire Games
- New Zealand male hurdlers
- New Zealand Athletics Championships winners
- 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen
- New Zealand athletics biography stubs