A team of Year 12 Rich’s pupils tackled the Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor at the weekend. This is the first time that the School has taken part in the notoriously tough event, with the Rich’s team completing the challenge and crossing the finish line at a very respectable 15:30 on Sunday, having walked a route which totalled over 53 miles.

The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) over the northern half of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors/check points in under two days. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely. Our group, given their age, set off at 07:00 on Saturday on the 45-mile (as the crow flies) challenge, aware that they had to complete their route before 17:00 on Sunday. The Head of the Army gave a speech to all participants at the start line, plus the Army gave a parachute display.

The resilience that all the students who initially registered and trained prior to selection for this event must be congratulated. The grit and determination shown by our team in taking part in the renowned SW Regional Challenge should be an inspiration to all our pupils. Congratulations Ben, Clover, George, John, Joseph and Will on an incredible achievement.

What is the Ten Tors?

Earlier this year Sir Thomas Rich’s applied to become a Ten Tors establishment. After being accepted, students in Year 12 who wished to be considered for the final team trained monthly in the Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor throughout the year. These students went through a tough selection process with the first STRS team selected and finalised in April. Joseph A (Team Leader), Clover D (Deputy Team Leader), George R, Will R, John S and Ben W, with Micah B (as reserve).

There may be many challenging outdoor events in Britain today, but Ten Tors stands alone in its scale, its ambition and the fact that it is aimed solely at young people. The event takes place every year on Dartmoor during the weekend following the May public holiday. All those who attempt Ten Tors will undoubtedly remember it for the rest of their lives, and for many it will be a life-changing experience.

Training for the event is the responsibility of the participants’ establishments, and often starts months in advance. Completing Ten Tors is not easy with the terrain, distances and often the climate all conspiring against success. It is, though, achievable, with the right commitment, training, endurance and grit. As the event’s founder once said: “If there is anything more important than the will to succeed, it is that the will shall not falter.”

The Ten Tors starts and finishes at Okehampton Camp and is organised by the Army, with support from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as well as civilian emergency services and volunteers. It consists of two challenges, the Ten Tors Challenge and the Jubilee Challenge. We congratulate the team for their amazing achievement, and Mrs Rigby-Smith for all her hard work on the event and training, along with Mr Kendry and Mrs Atkinson who supported her ably over the weekend.