Two Newton Abbot College Ten Tors teams are celebrating following their successful completion of both the 35 and 45 mile challenge held on the weekend of 12/13 May.

Following a rigorous scrutineering of team equipment, both teams were cleared for the early morning Saturday start following the compulsory safety briefings and route planning exercises.

Ten Tors sees young people navigate the rough terrain of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated checkpoints during the two-day challenge. Teams have to be self-sufficient during the challenge, packing and carrying all necessary supplies, navigating routes and camping for the night. The challenge, organised by the Army, is considered one of the toughest events held for young people in the country.

The challenge was not without incident; one member from each team was forced to retire through injury on the first day. Despite this, following a 4am start on Sunday, a great pace, grit and determination, both teams crossed the finish line within minutes of each other around 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Newton Abbot College’s Outdoor Education Leader and Ten Tors Manager, Lyndsay Cooper, said of the achievement: “Both teams did very well, navigating around the moor with skill. Ten Tors provides one of the few opportunities for students to be truly self-sufficient, make independent decisions and work as a team. It is an incredibly tough challenge that tests their mettle and survival skills. We are very proud of their achievement.”