Harry Kerr

Harry Kerr’s place in New Zealand sporting history is very secure. He is Olympian number one. At the 1908 London Olympic Games he became the first New Zealander to win an Olympic medal taking the bronze in the 3500m walk. He was born in 1879 and died in 1951.

He always had unusual sports ability. He was a champion shooter, loved rugby, and was good at most track and field events. But walking particularly caught the attention of the strapping 6ft 4in (or 1.93m) Kerr. As was often the custom at the turn of the 20th century, he bypassed the major meets of the day to compete professionally, and was a regular at the big New Year’s Day pro meet at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin, where he conceded massive handicaps.

Kerr eventually decided to turn amateur, which necessitated standing down from all competition for two years. He took his two-year hiatus in 1905-06, and dedicated himself to clearing bush on the family farm at Tariki, near Stratford.

Once eligible for championship meets, he quickly stamped his class and secured his Olympic selection by winning Australasian one and three-mile titles at Hobart in early 1908. Kerr returned from London a national celebrity and continued to dominate the national scene, winning three further New Zealand titles in 1911-12. His greatest walk was at the national champs in Wellington in 1911, when he won the three-mile race in 21min 36.6s, which remained the national record until 1946. He also enjoyed great success at the Australasian champs, winning three titles at the 1908, 1909 and 1911 meetings.

He retired in 1912, marrying Isobelle in 1913 and serving in Europe during World War I. Coming out of retirement at the age of 46 Kerr competed at the 1925 national championships in Wanganui winning the one mile and three mile walks. Always an outgoing character, Kerr continued to follow sport avidly, representing Taranaki in lawn bowls.

He won six New Zealand titles: one mile walk 1908, 1911-12, 1925, three mile walk 1911 and 1925.
Kerr was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Written by Murray McKinnon