Latest news with #TenTorsChallenge
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
Somerset scouts take on Ten Tors challenge for the 50th year
Scout groups have taken part in the famous Ten Tors challenge for the 50th year in a Gordano and Axe Scout Districts from Somerset took on the challenge, which sees teams of six young people aged between 14 and 19 participate in an unsupervised hiking challenge of 35, 45 or 55 miles across groups first took on the challenge in 1975 and ever since more than 4,000 children from them have taken part. This year, all 126 children participating successfully finished the challenge. One of the key people in the decades of Ten Tors challenges for the scouts from North Somerset has been Sue has been cooking for them the night before ever since the groups first entered the challenge, and this year fed the teams on rice and peas. The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of year the North Somerset groups sent 21 teams, a total of 126 kids. The teams had to be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight are 14 checkpoints the children had to reach, mostly Tors and some Beacons and hills. The children have to navigate their own way around in the main expedition set off from Okehampton Camp at 07:00 BST and and had to return by 17:00 BST on Sunday.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
How teenagers coped with a digital detox during 48-hour challenge
Young people taking part in the Ten Tors Challenge across Dartmoor in Devon said it was amazing to "detach" for technology as they had to give up their mobile phones for 48 members taking on the trek were forced into a "digital detox" as they had nothing but the essentials and as part of the event rules, and had to surrender their phones before setting out on the moor. Participant Milly, who attends Ivybridge Community College, said: "I think this generation finds it so hard to be away from their phones."She said she missed listening to music more than anything because it was "motivating". However, the team improvised and sang together instead, she added. Milly said: "I would have listened to some pop music, something like that."The team leader for Dartmoor Plodders said it was "very rare" for young people to have time without their phones these Brown said the 2,400 teenagers who took part in the annual event, aged between 14 and 19 years old, had a weekend in the wilderness where there was much more to look at, think about and do rather than looking at a screen."It gives you a view that there is something else in the world other than the screen in front of you," he Brown said he did receive some complaints from his team about not keeping their "streaks" - messaging or interacting with friends every day - which he did not whether he could be separated from his phone for a weekend, he said: "It was a bit different then and whether I could nowadays, I don't know."My excuse is that I need it for work, but I probably could." One Dartmoor Plodder, Charlotte, who completed the 35-mile (56km) route, said the thought of her phone being in a plastic bag at the starting line, not on her person, was "horrendous", but it did allow her team to build stronger team members and sisters Scarlet and Eleanor said they kept reaching to their pockets for their phone during the said: "Sometimes I would reach in my pocket to get it and it wasn't there, which was sad."Eleanor said she was distracted by the moor and walking around, so she forgot she did not have her phone, other than when she wanted to message people. Parents Lyn and Mark Winsper said daughters Scarlet and Eleanor were usually "glued" to their phones at home, adding it was good for them to have a little bit of time without Winsper said: "We always encourage to get out and about, phones are not integral to them, but two days without them is good."Mrs Winsper also said whenever they did go out as a family walks or horse-riding, away from their phones, photos did end up on social media shortly after, so it was "all linked". St Ives Secondary School teacher Laura McCall said teenagers not having their phones was a "big deal" and it was not something to be "underestimated"."They are very much used to having contact, like a lot of us are with the outside world and the internet," she also said students had noticed the positives about having a break from their mobile phones and were proud of their achievements."It is nice for them to have that understanding that, as much as they feel it is a necessity to them, they can actually achieve a lot without the aid of that. "In class, you do get the odd student using their phone to check the time. They use their phone for so much more than just contacting people."On Friday evening, ahead of the two-day challenge, she said the event allowed the team to socialise with other schools and people from different backgrounds they might not have been aware McCall said: "They were here playing chess with the different schools, and we had a few girls from other schools and they were braiding each other's hair for the next morning."It was so lovely to see the interaction between them all and, for them, to have the freedom to have fun."Members of the St Ives team, who completed the 35-mile challenge, said they were looking forward to a good night's rest and seeing their families over getting their phones back. Sgt Tosh Hodgkins, from the Army's HQ South West cadet training team, said the challenge enabled the participants to be away from distractions and do nothing but talk to each other for 48 said: "They make their decisions without referring to anything electronic and it just opens up their worlds to what they can achieve without having to rely on technology and Google."It strips everything away and puts them back to the people they are and they rebuild themselves."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Shattered' Ten Tors teams begin crossing finish line
Teams taking part in the Ten Tors Challenge are approaching the finish line on the final day of the "phenomenal" event. Thousands of teenagers from across the south west of England and beyond have been walking either 35, 45, or 55 miles (56, 72 or 88km) across Dartmoor. The annual challenge, organised by the British Army's Headquarters South West, was kicked off on Saturday by Gen Sir Roland Walker, and participants have until 17:00 BST to cross the finish line. Sgt Tosh Hodgkins, from the HQ South West cadet training team, said the challenge was "the most emotional" thing he had ever been involved in. Sgt Hodgkins said: "The guys that volunteer to come and help keep this event safe, it's genuinely like an enormous family. "The positivity up here is phenomenal, and everybody leaves with a complete buzz and a smile on their face." Sgt Hodgkins said the young people taking part in the challenge "inspire" him. The challenge, organised by the British Army's Headquarters South West, involves teams navigating routes across the northern half of Dartmoor in under two days. Participants must follow their allocated route, which specifies the staffed locations to visit and the order to visit them, but teams are responsible for navigating their own paths between those points. The first teams to cross the finish line, together, were the Torquay Boys Grammar School and the Dartmoor National Trust, who both completed 35-mile (56km) routes. Charlie Snell, from the Dartmoor National Trust team, said his team carried his bag for him for the last stretch of the trek because he had blisters on his feet. "They were the only reason I made it, I'm very grateful to everyone," he said. Ollie Brown, from Torquay Boys Grammar School, said he was "shattered" after completing the walk, but said "every single bit was worth it". More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Proud families cheer on Jubilee Challenge teams Teams set off to tackle 'immensely tough' Ten Tors Ten Tors: Rules, routes and safety measures Teamwork and adrenaline: How teens tackle Ten Tors
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ten Tors teams begin crossing finish line at 'phenomenal' event
Teams taking part in the Ten Tors Challenge are approaching the finish line on the final day of the "phenomenal" of teenagers from across the south west of England and beyond have been walking either 35, 45, or 55 miles (56, 72 or 88km) across annual challenge, organised by the British Army's Headquarters South West, was kicked off on Saturday by Gen Sir Roland Walker, and participants have until 17:00 BST to cross the finish Tosh Hodgkins, from the HQ South West cadet training team, said the challenge was "the most emotional" thing he had ever been involved in. Sgt Hodgkins said: "The guys that volunteer to come and help keep this event safe, it's genuinely like an enormous family."The positivity up here is phenomenal, and everybody leaves with a complete buzz and a smile on their face."Sgt Hodgkins said the young people taking part in the challenge "inspire" challenge, organised by the British Army's Headquarters South West, involves teams navigating routes across the northern half of Dartmoor in under two must follow their allocated route, which specifies the staffed locations to visit and the order to visit them, but teams are responsible for navigating their own paths between those points.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teams set off to tackle 'immensely tough' Ten Tors
Thousands of teenagers are starting the 63rd Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor. The annual challenge, organised by the British Army's Headquarters South West, sees teams navigate routes across the northern half of Dartmoor in under two days. It is usually attempted by about 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six, with routes ranging between 35 and 55 miles (56-88km). Up to 400 young people with special needs were taking part in the Jubilee Challenge, a one-day event across four different routes. Teams in the main expedition were due to set off from Okehampton Camp at 07:00 and must return by 17:00 on Sunday. Participants must follow their allocated route, which specifies which staffed locations must be visited and in what order, but it is up to teams to identify and navigate their own ways between them. The Army Headquarters South West said the challenge was "immensely tough". "Those teenagers taking part will trek unaided... and will encounter some of the toughest terrain and highest peaks in southern England," it said. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Teamwork and adrenaline: How teens tackle Ten Tors Ten Tors: Rules, routes and safety measures Thousands descend upon Dartmoor for Ten Tors Ten Tours 2025
