Thomas Engel (rower)

Born in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn on 19 November 1927, Engel was the son of Ernest Carl Engel and Anneta Eileen Engel (née Donohue).^[2][3] He was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School, where he enjoyed success as a boxer, defeating Kerry Ashby in the final of the 175 lb (79 kg) weight division of the school's boxing championships in 1944.^[4] He won the same division as well as the open championship the following year.^[5]

Engel was the stroke of the West End Rowing Club eight that won the men's eight title at the New Zealand championships in 1949; the other crew members were Kerry Ashby, Bill Tinnock, Murray Ashby, Don Rowlands, Grahame Jarratt, Bruce Culpan, Edwin Smith, and Donald Adam (cox).^[6] The same crew subsequently represented Auckland in the 1949 interprovincial rowing championships, and were again victorious.^[6] The latter race was seen as an important trial for the 1950 British Empire Games,^[6] and the entire West End crew was selected to represent New Zealand.^[7] At the 1950 Games, raced on Lake Karapiro, the New Zealanders finished second in a time of 6:27.5, half a second behind the winning Australian crew.^[7]

Engel died on 6 December 1979, and his body was cremated at Waikumete.^[1][2]