Teams complete Ten Tors Challenge

The build up to this year's annual Ten Tors event has been more keenly anticipated than usual with the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the event. Training started back in October with a day walk on the Brecon Beacons and began in real earnest in February with weekly lunchtime training sessions and a long walk across the Mendips. During March and April students from years 10, 12 and 13 spent weekends and part of the Easter holiday training on Dartmoor making sure they were fully prepared for whatever the Moor might throw at them. Finally after much deliberation the teams of 6 were chosen and final preparations made. As the rest of the country was gearing up for the election a small team of staff left Chew Valley early on 6^th May to set up base camp and the teams followed down on Friday 7^th. After an intense day of scruitineering, team briefings and route planning the teams tucked into a healthy meal before trying to get some sleep for the challenge ahead.

We woke on Saturday to the sounds of Chariots of Fire at 5am and headed up to the start. At 7am the guns fired and 2,400 participants set off to meet the challenges of Dartmoor and complete their routes by 5pm on Sunday afternoon. The weather was cold, damp and visibility was challenging but the Chew Valley teams made great progress during Saturday. By evening the 35 milers had reached their 8^th Tour and the other two teams had gone as far south as they needed to and were heading north back towards Okehampton Camp and the finish. On Saturday night three members of Chew Valley staff, past and present, were awarded long service medals for their volunteering work for Ten Tors teams over the past few decades. Chris Browning and Brian Tucker received their Gold Awards for 30 years and 27 years respectively and Jo Hibbert her Silver award for 17 years involvement.

Sunday brought the supporters from Chew Valley to see in the teams and for the first time in the history of Chew Valley School's involvement in Ten Tors all three teams of 35, 45 and 55 miles completed the challenge as full teams. The 35 mile team finished at 10:35, the 55 mile team at 12:43 and the 45 mile team at 1:43. The participants have completed an incredible challenge and gained an amazing achievement. Many thanks go to Wessex Brigade for staging Ten Tors and to all the staff, past and present, who have made sure students at Chew Valley can successfully take part in this truly unique event.