Harry Kerr
Encyclopedia
Harry Kerr was a New Zealand
athlete who competed mainly in the 3500 metre walk.
He competed for New Zealand in the 1908 Summer Olympics
held in London in the 3500 metre walk where he won the bronze medal. This was the first time a New Zealander had won an Olympic medal.
Harry Kerr was born in Taranaki and was a champion shooter
and keen rugby
player as competing in a variety of track and field
events. Competing for a time as a professional he was required to stand down from competition for two years in order to regain his amateur status. After winning numerous national titles Kerr virtually retired in 1912 and served in World War I
but returned to win two more national titles in 1925 at the age of 46.
Harry Kerr was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
in 1996.
On 13 July 2008 to commemorate the first Olympic Games medal by a New Zealander (actually on 14 July 1908) the Harry Kerr Centennial Walking Relay was held at Sovereign Stadium, Mairangi Bay
, Auckland
. Two events were held, a 5x10km relay and a 3500m individual event. A shield for the winning team was presented by Kerr's daughter-in-law. It is proposed that this will be an annual event.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
athlete who competed mainly in the 3500 metre walk.
He competed for New Zealand in the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
held in London in the 3500 metre walk where he won the bronze medal. This was the first time a New Zealander had won an Olympic medal.
Harry Kerr was born in Taranaki and was a champion shooter
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
and keen rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player as competing in a variety of track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events. Competing for a time as a professional he was required to stand down from competition for two years in order to regain his amateur status. After winning numerous national titles Kerr virtually retired in 1912 and served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
but returned to win two more national titles in 1925 at the age of 46.
Harry Kerr was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990. Some 160 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception representing a wide...
in 1996.
On 13 July 2008 to commemorate the first Olympic Games medal by a New Zealander (actually on 14 July 1908) the Harry Kerr Centennial Walking Relay was held at Sovereign Stadium, Mairangi Bay
Mairangi Bay
Mairangi Bay is a suburb in North Shore City in New Zealand, across the Waitemata Harbour from Auckland.Mairangi Bay is under the local governance of the North Shore City Council...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Two events were held, a 5x10km relay and a 3500m individual event. A shield for the winning team was presented by Kerr's daughter-in-law. It is proposed that this will be an annual event.