PEDESTRIANISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 27 February 1907, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

KlilUt'S DISQUALIFICATION'. l'er Press Association. Wellington, February 20. IJ. Kerr, the walker, who computed at the Christchurcii Amateur Athletic meeting as a Wellington represent.! tive, referring to his disqualification, says that during tlie past nine years »e lias competed ill walking eve.its about forty times, was placed first on about thirty occasions, and in one solitary instance only was lie disqualified, ami f hat was at Normanby in 1000. As a professional be Imh competed at ah the leading gatherings in New Zealand, and up to last week his style had not been ollicially questioned, li accordingly came as a great shock when he was "ordered oil" on Thursday last when competing in the tlu-c" mile championship. Immediately after the contest he interviewed Mr Coonilies (the principal judge, who lmils from Sydney), and asked to be corrected in his style. He was told that he did not keep his knees "locked," and that he did not land on the heel of his foot. Kerr even went the length of submitting himself to Mr Coombes at the latter's hotel for a lesson in walking on Friday evening, and as far as possible followed his instructions tvi Saturday. Referring to the mile race, he states that as a. matter of fact he deliberately walked behind the Canterbury man the whole way,.because Mr Coombes had asked him to do so. Knowing that he could pass his opponent in the straight, he did so, and actually won, but was disqualified after wards. Naturally, after putting up the flue performances that ho has, Kerr is very much distressed at, the action of the judges. Asked if he intended to compete again, he said lie hardly knew what to do, but will probably compete in the sports here on Saturday, when Mr Cooftnbes will, again judge the walking.

The disqualification of Kerr in the three-mile walk ,at last Thursday's championship meeting gave rise 'to some comment, as his appearance had been looke.l forward to with great int'MVit A special of the "New Zealand limes" had a chat with Mr ]{ Coombea, President of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia, who was one of 'the judges of the walking. At the outset Mr Coombes explained that he had been acting at the meeting m conjunction with Messrs 11. 8. Batchelor and H. Goodwin, the latter being an ex-champion walker, and the decision arrived at had been' quite unanimous. Kerr had only been called off the track after two Mr Coombes pointed out that soimwhile ago the Australasian Union had adopted a definition of walking, which ho had drafted, and had embodied it in its rules, and had, in addition, agreed upon a style which must be followed by competitors. It was laid down in the rules that 'the heel of the foremost toot must touch ground before the toe of the other foot left the ground, and it was also regarded as necessaTy that tho knee must be kept perfectly straight, It was provided, also, that the body must be kept quite upright. In these particulars Kerr had not complied with the rules, for he walked with

his body bent and bis legs not pefeetly straight, so that, be came down flatfooted, with the weight of the body on the ball of 'the foot. Continuing, Mr Combes said: 1 ean appreciate Kerr's feeling thoroughly, for I am an <Jld walker m|Y»elf, anil profcnibly I feel more sorry than he does. Tlu> style he has been following lias been what he lias been accustomed to. However, there are rules, and theyl must be complied with. I bad a talk

' Willi Kerr, whom I found a quite unassuming athlete, and to show my own feeling in the matter, have arranged to meet him in the morning? and show in what rospents his style falls short of that laid down in tho rules. If he proves an apt pupil, na I am sure ho will do. I am convinced you will sop i quite a diflercn't style jn his going on J Saturday. I

Referring !to Kerr's disqualification in the one mile championship 011 Saturday, the Press Association report stated that Kerr, who had adopted the new style of walking explained to lrm i'.e !7« 0U - 2 ay by Mr one of the judges, walked fairlv for a time, although he could «<>; W. Rowland, of Catile, ;,, ; , v .(,„ set a Rood pace and maintained it Tll the second lap Kerr put on a spurt and returned to the old style to which except,on was take,, Tnurs- !,. • ' . witionod, mul for a T o f th V morp f">-roet stvle. the In at lap. however, he put'on another spurt and reverted a£ Z the quest, 0,,1,,e , tvle . a „ d wa3 off TCowlnnd and Korr worp m-ok and nook at Ihc and W fontmuod the rft e(\ Tlioro wis » srea't stride between the two'down Hie straight, and Kerr gradually fore«l ahead, nrnl passed the tape about SiX lncncs in advance of Rowland. He xvas disqualified, and the championship went to Howie nd. RtubherfieM. who linislied very f:,r liehinJ, gained second place. It was, of course, a dillicult matter fur a ma,, ( n lir-mm. rn-oiV. i,f 111 a now of uvj!< : "- - t i u -,» «?.,.. i\w\ ronM uot k> ;i! li"it KeVr. v. lien pushed, fell into the famil I iar, lmt improper, stvle which led to his disqmlifiea'ton on Thnrsdn* '■ 1 .• i„ ,v ■-<vl-' Kerr Should still I'C ah'' l to ->■ «-i.« hi •<' " l»r«» -K a 1*11" l-cbs „ .IVcr.

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