OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 12

OBITUARY.

CHARLES KERR.

Mr Charles Kerr, whose death as the result of an accident on Saturday last occurred at the Christchurch Hospital yesterday was well known in sporting circles as a trainer, rider and driver of trotting horses. His connection with the sport of trotting in Canterbury dated back for over thirty years. Mr Kerr got his first mount from the late Mr R. Sunderland, whose horse Cock Robin was ridden to victory by Kerr in 1884, at a race meeting held n,t Heathcoto on a spot opposite what is now known as the “ old racecourse.” Kerr won a number of races on Cock Robin, and when, a year or two later, the sport of trotting began to beeomo popular in the colony, Charles Kerr joined forces with his brother William and started a training stable at New Brighton. Messrs M. and B. Edwards started as trainers some two years later, and the two partnerships for a time had the business.practically to themselves. 'Hie deceased was one of the first riders to compete under the auspices of the old Heathcote Trotting Club, which had its course opposite the old Heathcote Hotel. At that date there were no harness events, all races being contested in the saddle. A few years later, when -the New Brighton Club was formed, with a course on the same site as one, but of six furlongs, Mr Kerr was again one of the first drivers to appear there, and later he took part in the meetings conducted at Lancaster Park ana Addington .Show Grounds. He drove one of the first pneumatic-tyred sulkies seen in the .province,, at Lancaster Park, towards the end of 1886, and won tho race in. which lie was entered with a horse called Sonny. At about the time when the possibilities of tho pacer began to be recognised in New Zealand, Mr_ Iverr was entrusted with the training of the Ashburton mare, Miss , Poole. Ho discovered that she was a natural pacer, and the mare won many races. She . later proved a valuable brood mare, being the dam of Wild Poole, Miss Wild Poole, Master Poole, Wood Nymph, Waterlog, Maelstrom, Goldwater and Prince Poole. In, the early ’nineties the Kerr Brothers imSorted from Australia, through Mr ichardson, of New Plymouth, the American-bred trotting horses Wildwood and Ha-Ha, two stallions, Norbell, and the mare Alice Azmoor. The well-known stallion Wild Moor wfas tho progeny of Wildwood and Alice Azmoor. The partnership between tlie Kerr Brothers was dissolved in 1905, and the business of training horses for clients was carried on thenceforward by Mr Charles Kerr alone. Despite his lengthy career on the tracks, Mr Kerr was able up till tho last to hold his own ae a rider or driver. He drove Admiral Wood to victory in tho Derby event at New Brighton on the day' on which he met with the accident tliat caused his death. He was extremely popular in- trotting circles, and the confidence reposed in him hr his clients was demonstrated bv the fact that his stables were always full. He had a genial and cheerful natulfe, took his successes modestly and liis reverses without grumbling. His death removes from the trotting world one who had earned the reputation of a good sportsman, in the best sense of the word, and who had won scores of firm friends by his integrity of character and geniality of temperament.