KEY POINTS:
One hundred years ago this Monday, Harry Kerr heel-and-toed his way into third place in the 3500m track walk at London's White City and claimed the first of New Zealand's 81 Olympic medals.
Kerr's feat as New Zealand's first Olympic medallist will be recognised tomorrow with the inaugural Harry Kerr Centennial Relay _ a race between teams of five walkers who will cover 10,000m each _ at North Shore's Sovereign Stadium.
Race organiser Mike Parker, who was denied his chance to join the small band of New Zealand race walkers at an Olympic Games when he was selected for the 1980 Moscow Games only to fall victim to the Government-led boycott, sees this as an opportune way to mark the historic occasion.
Budding walkers will also have their chance to line up in an open 3500m race which will follow the relay.
Kerr, born Edward Henry (Harry) Kerr, was one of three New Zealanders in that 1908 Australasian team, and won his place, but not without some controversy, after his reinstatement to amateur ranks in 1907 after competing as a professional.
He came under fire from Australian authorities who did not like what they saw and attempted to cast doubt on his "new style" which had produced stunning times.
Kerr ruled the track, here and in Australia, from 1908-1911 (winning national titles on both sides of the Tasman) but then walked away from his sport, fought in Europe in World War I before making a stunning return in 1925 to again win the one and three mile New Zealand titles. He died of cancer in 1951.
"New Zealand's race walkers have largely been overlooked but two of our first Olympic medal-winners were walkers," said Parker. "We felt it was appropriate that this historic occasion should be recognised in this way.
"We have invited teams from around the country to take part and have set a standard which must be bettered if the winning time is to be acknowledged as a national record."
That time _ 4h 30m 42.8s _ has special significance, being Norm Read's winning time in the 50km road walk at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Read followed Kerr and Albert Edward Mackay (Arthur) Rowland (who finished fifth behind Kerr in London) as New Zealand's next Olympic walker.
"At that time, New Zealand walkers had done exceptionally well with medals at the only two Games they had competed at," said Parker who could have been the next cab off that rank and would have lined up in Moscow with a 4h 8m best _ a time which could have been worth a top 10 finish.
Parker and his hard-working committee have had replicas of Kerr's bronze medal, on permanent show at New Zealand's Sporting Hall of Fame in Dunedin, cast and will present them to the five members of the first three teams in tomorrow's race.
The winning team will also be the first recipients of an impressive shield made from 2000-year-old swamp kauri. The shield, which will be held in Auckland and contested annually, will be presented by Kerr's daughter-in-law Rose Sheat.
If that team goes under Read's Melbourne time all members will be presented with a special certificate incorporating the scroll which accompanied Read's medal. Read's son Richard, accompanied by Read's wife Megan and two of his three sisters, will present the certificates.
Christchurch-born Rowland, largely overlooked in New Zealand's sporting history, was killed in action in Passchendaele late in World War I.
Read, born in England, and who also won bronze in the 20 mile walk at the 1966 Kingston Commonwealth Games, died in Pirongia of a heart attack during a veteran's cycle race in 1994.
NZ OLYMPIC RACE WALKERS
1908: Harry Kerr 3rd 3500m track; Albert (Arthur) Rowland 5th 3500m track.
1956: Norman Read 1st 50km road.
1960: Read dnf 50km road, 5th 20km road.
1980: Mike Parker dns 50km road (NZ team boycott).
1992: Anne Judkins 9th 10km road.
1996: Craig Barrett 33rd 50km road; Scott Nelson 32nd 20km road.
2000: Barrett 18th 50km road.
2004: Barrett 29th 50km road.
North Shore race will honour NZ's first Olympic medallist
MILES AHEAD
Edward Henry (Harry) Kerr
Born: Taranaki.
Date of birth: January 17, 1879.
Died: May 17, 1951.
NZ titles: One mile 1908, 1911, 1912, 1925. Three miles 1911, 1925.
Australasian titles: One mile 1908, 1909, 1911. Three miles 1908, 1909, 1911.
