Peter Moreton gutsy walk in YMCA 50 mile challenge in 1963

Mr J. B. Munro, the Y.M.C.A. youth director said that he was impressed that saw 39 walkers make a 50 mile journey from Tuatapere and Lumsden in 1963.  Technical College gym teacher, Mr G. Peters endorsed this saying that people who cry down the youth of today should have seen these walker's determination to complete the challenge.

Peter Moreton, a prominent walking and harrier athlete was the first one home in a time of 11 hr 50min which gave him a mile rate of 5-6 m.p.h.   Unfortunately it took a toll on his body and the next day was in bed with a strained ligament.  There were cheers and hoots from a large crowd as he rounded Tay Street to the YMCA building.  The time is claimed as a New Zealand record.  He was walking so fast on the final stages that two pipers could not keep up with him and they had to get on the back of a truck to do so.
The next two home were Phillip Ward, 17 and Ron Clark aged 19.
Chris Powley walked the first 6 miles and rode a single wheel bike the other 44 miles.  He did it in a time of 12.5 hrs.
The first two technical college boys to arrive from Tuatapere were William Leith aged 15 and Colin Ryder aged 16.
When Moreton arrived at the headquarters in Tay St, he was 16 miles ahead of the last person who was approaching Winton.
Of the 22 women who started the walk only five saw the whole distance out and first in a time of 13 hours was Sandra Humphrey and the came Barbara McLean, Barabara Nicol and Brownwyn Binney and Mrs J. Rogers.  
Mr I. Davis had a special reason for entering the walk as about 60 years ago her late uncle Mr Walter Adcock, walked from Invercargill to Dunedin along the railway line to see the Duke and Duchess of York.
Many young people whose parents were competing walked some of the way with them and Don Riesterer's son who is nine, Graeme walked 22 miles.  Mr and Mrs Derek Turnbull's triplets walked from Centre Bush to Winton.
One boy, Graeme Boniface, aged 14,  was not expected to walk more than 12 miles but managed to walk 45 miles until his legs refused to move anymore.  His father walked several miles with him until Lorneville, where dozens of people were cheering him on.
Graeme could not go any further and it was noted that most of his 45 miles was done solo.

Reference:  The Southland Times April 1963.

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