More than 2400 young people joined the Ten Tors Challenge last weekend for its 63rd year. Exeter School’s teams headed out to their base camp at Okehampton at lunchtime on Friday, which our staff had worked hard to set up from 4.30am the previous day, and made themselves at home before taking part in team-building activities to help psych them up for the gruelling 35, 45 and 55 mile routes that lie ahead of them.
Teams were up at 5am to get going up to the starting line before 7am. It was a great day weather-wise to be gathering with lots of well-wishers assembling to get them on their way.
The support from all was tremendous for the weekend – Ray Mears was amazing, taking the time to talk to our pupils before the event. Rebecca Glover (2004-2013) of Force Atlantic was there running an engagement activity for all Ten Tors participants. As an alumna, who is now an army medic who was one of the Army’s first all-female team to row across the Atlantic, we were especially thankful for her inspiration to our pupils. Rebecca was also able to have a joyful reunion with her GCSE Geography teacher, Mrs Helen Sail, who had also mentored her through her own Ten Tors Challenge.
Parachute teams, helicopters and Merlins were all out as the teams set off for the same tor to start. There were a few bottlenecks to start with with teams breaking off after the first hour heading to the 14 checkpoints on their various routes. Parents were then left to eagerly await news, constantly refreshing the tracking website.
For pupils participating in the 35 mile routes, camping at checkpoint provided a bit of comfort at the end of their first day. However, 45 and 55 mile teams must camp wild, at least 500m away from a checkpoint so it can get quite daunting, especially with tired feet. The weather held up for them and all had a great night with a different story the next day.
As teams crossed the finish line, we saw every season greeting them. The first couple of team crossed the cold and cloudy finish line around 10.30am with the rain starting as the next came in. However, the last of our teams came in with a backdrop of brilliant sunshine.
Most of our teams finished in the top half with our 55 mile team – Rosie, Tom, Ollie, Rory, Matthew and Max – coming in second place (first on their particular route).
We are so incredibly proud of how our pupils push themselves to take part in this challenge each year, making lasting memories. Alumna Rebecca Glover reflected,
“The Ten Tors Challenge was so important in shaping me and made me realise I could take on any challenge that I faced in life”.
