[2][3] In his very first international competition, the 1982 European Curling Championships, Smith won a gold medal playing second for Mike Hay.

Two years later, he skipped the British team to an eighth-place finish at the 1988 Winter Olympics (curling was just a demonstration sport).

In 1990 he won another silver medal at the World Championships, losing to Canada's Ed Werenich in the final 3-1.

The following year he won the gold medal, defeating Canada's Kevin Martin in the final 7-2.

In 1993 he won his third silver medal at the World Championships, losing again to Canada 8-4, this time skipped by Russ Howard.