A CHAMPION WALKER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 337, 26 October 1908, Page 7

A CHAMPION WALKER.

BACK FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES. INTERVIEW WITH H. KERR, The New Zealand champion walker, Mr. Harry Kerr, who left Wellington in May last to 1 compete in the walking events at the Olympic Games, returned from London on Saturday afternoon b?o the steamer Paparoa, and was Welcomed by several local athletes. Mr. Kerr 6tates that he was treated well in London, and immediately after he arrived was mado a member of the famous Pyrotechnic Club. Tho New Zealander had to rush his training as soon as he arrived -at Homo, and was consequently never in the best of condition- during his stay, ' He was in London for two. weeks before he competed in his first race, and some of .this time was occupied in getting settled down. The only training he had before the first race —the English championships—was seven walks. The walking events at the Olympic Games were the first on the programme, and Kerr, to use his own expression, was in "no condition at all, being stiff and stale through forcing things." The cinder track was against the yonng New Zealander, who had been used to walking on 'grass, and had never raced on cinders before. The traok was very fast, and Kerr is •of opinion that once a man got used' to it he could do better than on the turf. Personally, he found it hard on his feet and'legs. Tho track affected the New Zealander to such an extent that after coming third in his heat of the 10-mile walk at the Olympic Games ho could not start in the final: ' Kerr had new shoes on this day, and' one shoe cut the side of his foot and / blistered the foot all along one side. For the last three miles lof the heat he could only walk on one side of his foot, which was paining him considerably. Kerr had never walked in a race over 10 miles before the big event, and, notwithstanding his handicap, was not troubled by his wind in any way, and cut out the distance in only lmin. 2sec. over the old world's record. Larner, who won the'event, put up a new world's record. The other English champion, Webb, impressed the New Zealander more than Larner did.' _ Larner is described as an ugly walker, with a style peculiarly his own. Commenting on the styles of the various walkers, ; English critics considered the Colonial style fairer. than that of the Englishmen. Practically every one of .the English representatives in the 3500 metres race was cautioned once' or more during the race. Some concern was felt in New Zealand, as to how the English judges would look upon Kerr's style,, but with one exception' the New Zealander, satisfied all the judges he walked under. Tim-exception was in a 10-mile evening race at the Stadium before the Olympic Games opened. Kerr had gone 5J miles when lie slackened his pace to keep a man ahead: of him, and. was ordered on the traok. VHe could'not'understand the reason why, as he-was walking slowly at the time, but was. informed afterwards that he was disqualified' for jumping. -/One!of the - ' judges informed' Ken- afterwards that he would never' have been interfered with but for-the faot that he slackened his pace. The same'judge-who disqualified Kerr had passed his walking before, and did so several times -after.- The New Zealander was never . even-.'cautioned in ■ any of the championship events, Kerr considers that in the matter of judging the English judges are not nearly as strict as the New Zealanders.

Walking events are a feature of English sports, meetings, fields of 30 and 40 turning out for practically, every event. After a man has got; into training he can keep in condition by his engagements alone. Kerr says he was only beginning to feel fit when he left England, and the only time ho really felt like raoing was in a handicap event at Windsor; The New Zealander could never get down to within half. a stone of his proper weight at any time, notwithstanding every' effort to do so. "I was only just finding out how to train when I left," says tho Taraaaki man, "but I can say. that, everywhere I wont the AllBlack uniform assured mo a grejtt reception." Iu this connection it may be stated that al-. though Kerr' walked in the Now Zealand colours at all the outside meetings, ha and the other New.Zealand representative, Murray, both appeared in tho colours of tho Australasian runners at tho Olympic games. The New Zealand -uniform playod no part in tho games, i■■ At the Olympic games, the New Zealander was second in 'his heat of .the 3500 metres walk, and finished third in the final. He walked into third place in his heat of the 10-mile event, but could not start in tho final on account of the cinder track having broken his feet up. Previous to the games, Kerr was'placed fourth in a two-milo event at the English championships, and was third in a two-mile handicap at the Stadium. After tho games he also entered for various handicap events at a different place, being virtually scratch man overy start. Tho young New Zealander was first in a two-milo Handicap at Windsor, and also got two seconds, a fourth, and a fifth in other two-mile walks. Ho also started in a" free-and-easy at Lincoln the Saturday before he left on the. return for New Zealand, But did not complete tho course. Kerr brings back a number of valuable trophies, including a bronze medal for breaking the standard, in the two-milo race at the English championships, and another for gaining third place in the 3500 metres at tho Olympic games. Dressing-cases rewarded the first at Windsor and a second at Manchester; a silver hot-water jug for second at the Stadium; a rose bowl for fourth at Tooting ; 'aud a silver teapot, sugar basin, and cream jug .were the rewards in other of the handicap races. Besides these trophies, the New Zealand representative was presented with several other mementoes of tho trip at places' he competed. According tq Kerr, Murray, the othor New Zealand reprcsontativo, had bad luck in striking Bacon, the American, in his heat of tho ,440 hurdles at the games. Bacon won his heat and the final in world's record timo. Only tho first in oach heat started in tho final, but had Murray got into tho final, Kerr considered bo could havo got third placo. Tho hurdles were only 3ft. high in place of 3ft. 6in., the Now Zealand standard. Halllgan, another Now Zealander now. living in Scotland, was one of tho British representatives at tho games, but did not show ap in any way. a Commenting generally on the athletes at tho games, Korr considered that for two, three, four, and five-mile runners, England stands out by horsolf. Tho Americans were trained ,to the hour, and wore in hotter form than any other competitors at tho sports. They kept to themselves generally, and_ bathed a great deal, but on tho wnolo did what they said they were going to do. Tho Yankees made a specialty of having different men for practically overy event. "Yes, I saw tho finish of tho Marathon race," said tho Now Zealander in reply to a quor.v, "but I would not caro to see another Dorando finish. It wa6 cruol to seo him. Ho could never havo finished if lie hadn't boon assisted." Mr. E. Hodgman, of Taranaki, who went Homo with Mr. Korr, also returned by tho Paparoa. "I don't know what I would" havo done without him," is the walking champion's tribute to hia trainer,