DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN TRAINER.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14975, 23 May 1914, Page 15

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN TRAINER.

Mr Cnarlee Kcrr, tho vrcll-known. trotting trainer who met with an accident lak Saturday night through the horse ho waa driving collid.ng with a tramway pole, died in the Hospital at ti.3o last evening, without having regained consciousness. On Saturday last Kerr drove Admiral Wood to victory in tho New Brighton Derby sad stiterwards came into tho city. Hβ left town at 10,30 p.m., driving a trotting sulky, and while travelling along- Regent etrvet, WooJaton, he met with the accident and received concussion of tho brain, Irom tbo effects of which lie nbver rallied.

Charlos K«t was one of the best known trainers of trotting torees in New Zealand, and incidentally was ono of the most respected men in the aport. In hit day ho was the most accomplisnod rider in ihe country, and old troit.ng men aver that hia eflual not to be found in Canterbury at tho present time, T,-hi!e aa a- diiver there were none better. Kcrr was a very fine sportsman, and one of the roost generous and broadminded men it wouia bo poEaible to find. His caioer, in connexion •with trotting commenced ac far back ac IS7B, tnd over iince he haa been actively connected with the epoit. For a long tim© he raced in partnership with iiia brother, W. Kcrr, another well-known trainer, but fomc year* ago tho partnership was dissolved, and ever since the brothers have raced on their own accounts. Us jodo his first race at Brown's Paddock, right opposite the cite -where the Heathcote Trotting Club irAlater yesure held their Meetings, and einoe then ho ha* patronised aiearly every iloelin? in the country includ:ng fixtures held by the ICeiv Brighton Club, louj* befbro the present improvenaenti wc:o ia evidonce, Heathcote, Lancaster Park, Canterbury Park, JC-aw Zoaland Metropolitan, besides many othera in various parts of TSexv Zeftland. In the early daya he ha 4.» lot of. horpc*, including Cock Eobin, Gipsy, and Xarrow Gauge, and many others that helped to brins the eport to ;ta proaect higli standing;. ,

The g-.oat trotting stallion Wildwood wsh owned by the brothera, \V. and C. Kerr, and the ssuccess of tho progeny of this horee hae beon very pronounced "during lato year*. He also^ owned Alice Asmoor (imp.), dam of Alice Wood, Huon Moor, and Wild Moot , , while W. Korr bad Thelma, dam cf "Wil'owood, WUdwood Jujir., and Adcnie. Men? horsee had passed through his hands sinco first bpcamo associated with the eport, and ha alway* proved himeelf to be ono of the mo*t bonost and trusted men connected with it. His ' death will como as a jad blow to all connected with the sport >f trotting, which loses one of I*3 most refpectei Bupportere.