THREE teams from Matravers took on the Ten Tors challenge recently, walking up to 55 miles over Dartmoor in self-sufficient teams.
The Ten Tors Challenge, one of the toughest tests of endurance in the country, is organised by the army and teams visit the ten nominated tors. The teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route while surviving two days on the moor.
Matravers entered teams for all three distances: 35 miles, 45 miles, and 55 miles.
The 55 mile team had already tackled the 35 mile and 45 mile challenge together as the same team in previous years – and with their wealth of experience these students completed the challenge before the other two teams despite the extra distance.
Students summed up the weekend’s weather in one word, “horrible!” The teams had to face high winds, rain, and high rivers, and this year the time limit was extended to take the weather into account. However, many students are keen to take on the event next year – and the 35mile team was even described as ‘the happiest team on the moor!’
Out of the 364 teams that entered the challenge, only 218 finished as complete teams, showing how tough the challenge is.
