Charles Edward Saunders MBE JP (13 September 1902 – 1 September 1994) was a New Zealand rower who competed at the 1930 British Empire Games, winning two medals, and at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Edward Saunders | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 September 1902 Blenheim, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | 1 September 1994 (aged 91) | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (166 lb)[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Merle Moore (m. 1935) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Wairau Rowing Club | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and family
editBorn in Blenheim on 13 September 1902,[2] Saunders was the youngest son of George Frederick Saunders and Elizabeth Saunders (née Lawrance).[3] On 6 May 1935, he married Merle Moore at St Andrew's Church, Blenheim,[3] and the couple went on to have three children.[4]
Rowing
editA member of the Wairau Rowing Club,[1] Saunders represented New Zealand at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario.[5] He was a member of the men's eight that won the silver medal, and the men's coxless four that won the bronze medal.[5]
At the 1932 Summer Olympics, he was part of the New Zealand men's coxed four that finished fourth in the final.[2]
Later life and death
editIn the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours, Saunders was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rowing and the community.[6] He died on 1 September 1994, [7] and his ashes were buried at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim.[4][8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "For Empire Games: the oarsmen to get their big opportunity". NZ Truth. 10 June 1930. p. 17. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Charley Saunders". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Weddings". The Press. 8 May 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Headstone image". data.marlborough.govt.nz. Marlborough District Council. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Charles Saunders". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "No. 46595". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1975. p. 7407.
- ^ "Olympedia – Charles Saunders". olympedia.org. OlyMADMen. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Cemetery records search". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
