2,500 teens complete Ten Tors

Sore feet, happy faces

Nearly 2,500 teenagers have taken part in the nation’s largest youth outdoor challenge, crossing Dartmoor National Park and tackling Ten Tors.

For the first time in three years, youngsters tracked 35, 45 or 55 mile routes for what was the 60th year of the challenge.

Mobile phones and GPS RE forbidden and adult intervention isn't allowed.

However, each team is equipped with a special tracker which is monitored in a military operations room manned 24 hours by service personnel and civilian staff. The teens can also alert the organisers if an emergency arises. 

Director of the event, Colonel Gary Mcdade said: “What a fantastic challenge, over 2 and a half thousand young people have been out on the Moor blessed with good weather, undoubtedly the Ten Tors flame is very much alive.”

After the start of the main event, 300 youngsters with special physical or educational needs started the Jubilee Challenge.

The teenagers - many in wheelchairs - entered either as teams or as individuals and completed routes of up to 15 miles; they were each accompanied by an Officer Cadet from Exeter University Officer Training Corps.

This year saw a new aspect of this very special event with the trial of the Jubilee Plus Challenge, where a handful youngsters camped out overnight instead of completing their hike on the same day. Its success will be reviewed and could be introduced next year.

Captain Preet Chandi, who started this year's event, recently completed a solo expedition across Antarctica to the South Pole, in her speech to the challengers she said: “Ten Tors is fantastic; it was so great to see all those young people raring to go at the start line. I love seeing people outdoors and to see so many young people from so many different backgrounds is amazing.

The boys of Gryphon School, Sherborne, walked in original Ten Tors kit

Gryphon School from Sherborne in Dorset completed the challenge wearing clothing like that worn by the pioneers of the event in the early 60’s. Edward Smith was one of the students involved: “We wanted to dress like this for the 60th anniversary. Having done a few walks with it on we wanted to see if we could make it all the way around Dartmoor with this ‘stuff on’.”

Devoncourt High School For Boys, Plymouth were the first of the Ten Tors teams to cross the finish line taking ‘Bronze’ just before 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. They were greeted by whoops of delight and congratulations from the crowd as they were first past the post completing the 35-mile challenge.  

Torquay Boys Grammar School took ‘silver’ as the first finishers of the 45-mile route and Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol completed the 55 mile ‘Golden’ route in primary position.