After months of training and hundreds of miles under their belts the Falmouth School Ten Tors Team completed their challenge this past Sunday. The team consisting of year 10 students; Theo Fleming, Rob Brown, Zack Amos, Austin Tyley, Isaac Hayes and Jago Hamersley set off from school on Friday morning after Mayor Councillor John Body popped in to wish the lad’s good luck for the challenge. He took time to speak to the team individually and their parents who were there to see the team off.
On arriving at the Okehampton Army Camp the team’s kit was rigorously checked by the events scrutinisers and once passed the team were then invited into the safety briefing.
On Saturday at 7am the cannon was fired and the bugle sounded to signal the start of their 35 mile challenge which they completed on the Sunday lunchtime.
With a host of interest from the National Press and a flurry of support from back home, the Falmouth School Team were cheered over the line at 12.39pm by staff, parents, and other family members who made the trip to Dartmoor. The time actually secured them fourth spot in their group of 16 other teams who were on the same designated route.
The Ten Tors is a selective team event and has to have a high level of commitment from all team members which is only available to a final team of 6 students carrying up to 13.6kg of tents, bedding, food, water, clothing and equipment.
The Challenge is limited to 2,400 individuals (four hundred teams of six teenagers). The teams, depending on age, face hikes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (56, 72 or 88km) over the rough terrain of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors / check points in under two days. The teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely. The weather can be very changeable and at times quite extreme, and success or failure can depend very much on the extent to which a team has been trained for all eventualities.
Mr Philpott, Falmouth School Outdoor Education Leader;
I am delighted with our lads. To see them approaching the line so early on the final day was an extremely emotional time for all. They have been dedicated all year to the Ten Tors training and this weekend tested their great team spirit and drive to succeed in challenging circumstances, which they passed with flying colours.
Few challenges in the world of outdoor education can hold a flame to the Ten Tors challenge, not because of its distance or the terrain, but because it is solely open to those aged between 14 & 19. They must have the support from all so a special thanks must go to the parents of the students, Ten Tors management team, Hawkshead Falmouth & Craghoppers Uk who have supported them in this once in a life time experience.
