A LONG WALK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18056, 5 April 1933, Page 11

A LONG WALK

AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON With the object of gaining some publicity for road-walking clubs in New Zealand, N. McCarthy, 18. set out to walk from Auckland to Wellington. He arrived at Wellington on Saturday after a final lap of 64 miles. The total distance which lie travelled was about 445 miles, and this was done at an average of approximately 45 miles a day. The going was reported to bo fairly heavy, the mental strain being particularly great in some lonely portions of the journey. The worst part of the long tramp was between Ohakune ad Taihape, where, the youth stated, the mental strain was terrible, as he did not speak to anyone for many hours. Excellent weather was experienced throughout. Mrs. Kitty Sullivan, who is 52 years of age, and who set out from Auckland five (lavs before McCarthy, was passed at Hamilton. Mrs. Sullivan, was then suffering from sore feet. She had trained for 13 months before setting out. It was estimated that she was travelling about 20 miles a day. Miss Esther James, who last year made the trip down from Auckland, travelled at about 12 miles a day. McCarthy, who belongs to the Klynndale Athletic Club in Auckland, .stated that Mr. S. Gudsell, ex-New Zealand walking champion, was the originator of the idea of the walk. It was hoped to encourage walkers in tho Dominion so that a representative might be sent to the next Olympic Games, , where the long-distance event is held over miles.