Organised annually by the Army, the Ten Tors Challenge is described as “the largest and most challenging event for young people held nationally” and involves 400 teams of 6 teenagers hiking 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) across Dartmoor to 10 specified Tors. It’s not a race, but a challenge (as there are multiple different routes walked, some being harder than others) and teamwork is key. It is the ultimate measure of ‘grit versus blisters, of drive versus pain, of team spirit versus nagging doubt, of you versus everything the Moor can throw’ at you!!!’ All of the teams are self-sufficient, carrying everything they need to complete their route, including tents, sleeping bags, spare clothing, first aid kits, food and water.

This year’s Ten Tors took place on the 12^th and 13^th of May, although the process began 4 months earlier, back in February, with 11 of us undertaking our first training walks around the hills of Bath. From here we progressed to longer and longer walks, culminating in two multi-day training sessions on Dartmoor itself. Sadly, each team can only consist of 6 students, so our initial 11 gradually became the final 6: Bethany Ede, Darcy Gresham, Lauren Morgan, Freya Spruit, Katie Stubbs and Imogen Rafferty. Out of 400 teams, we were proudly 1 of only approximately a dozen all-girl teams!

During the training, we learned to navigate, endure Dartmoor’s notorious tussocky grass, sterilise river water and some more unpredicted lessons were learned too; including avoiding a 2-mile-long wildfire, camping and walking in adverse conditions, thieving sheep (goodbye to Freya’s water bottle!) and thunderstorms.

Finally, the day of departure came and at 8am on Friday morning we departed for Dartmoor, accompanied by Mr Hardcastle and Mrs Williams after I had the privilege of collecting the RHSB flag from Mrs Duncan. Once we arrived, we were randomly assigned checkpoints and planned our route. Thankfully, our team were not picked for scrutineering by the army; however, this meant that we were subjected to a Mr Hardcastle kit check!!

There was an incredible party atmosphere in the camp on Friday night – including a huge conga around base camp; however, apprehension was high and nerves had well and truly settled in with abundance as we planned to finish at 4:15pm on Sunday (only 45 minutes before the permitted finish time of 5pm). We decided that an early night was needed before our hard challenge was to commence the next day.

The camp was woken up at 5am by a PA system playing Chariots of Fire and we all got ready, each of us trying to process the enormity of what we were about to face together. Even though we were all extremely nervous, we forced our breakfast down knowing that we would be thankful for the calories consumed later on in the day. Mr Hardcastle and Mrs Williams kept us calm and positive and at 6am Mr Hardcastle led us out of camp to begin the ascent to the start.

At 7am, with helicopters buzzing around and skydivers in the air, the field guns were fired and the event was underway. With 2,400 teenagers descending the hill at the start and taking their first steps along the many and varied routes, civilisation was quickly left behind. Our route took us to the highest point in Dartmoor and on Saturday (day 1), having walked 22 miles we finally set up camp around 8pm. We were delighted to travel beyond ‘White Barrow’, the checkpoint that the previous 3 RHSB teams have camped. We were determined to break that tradition and make it to the next checkpoint on our route. We slept well that night!

The next day, our alarms went off at 3:45am. We took down camp, cooked breakfast and were ready for departure at the earliest time that we were permitted to leave (6am). Spirits were high and although we were exhausted, our determination to succeed had not been dampened.

Early afternoon on Sunday, as we crested the final hill, we saw in the distance family, friends and supporters (including Mrs Duncan who had made the trip down to Dartmoor especially to cheer us home) waiting for us. This was our cue to proudly get the RHSB flag out, and with one last push, we crossed the finish line jubilantly all holding onto our flag at 1:51pm (roughly 2 hours ahead of our planned time and well ahead of the 5pm cut off time).

The feeling of elation is hard to describe. Over the 2 days, despite a mixture of tears and many blisters, we had sung our hearts out, laughed loads but most importantly formed friendships that would last forever. The Ten Tors experience has taught me about teamwork and how selfless, committed, honest, resilient and courageous my teammates were and I will draw on this experience for many years to come.

The team would like to thank everyone who supported and trained us over numerous weekends and gave up their time to enable us to get to that finish line. A special thank you has to be given to Mr Hardcastle, along with the other staff (Mrs Williams, Mrs Haynes, Mr Nicholas, Miss Davis, Mr Johnstone and Mr Leather) who gave up their time to help prepare us and support our challenge.

The Ten Tors is an absolutely amazing event and I urge everyone to take the opportunity to give it a go. 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”. At the beginning of the year, we could not envisage how we would achieve this challenge but the RHSB staff have been incredible in teaching us the skills required. Therefore, whatever stage in the process you get to, you will learn invaluable life skills. Roll on 2019 – I wish I could do it all over again, but I will be supporting and willing you on every footstep. Whatever the outcome of the event, if you put yourself forward for selection, I can guarantee you will not regret one moment!

The team’s parents have been overwhelmed by the impact that Ten Tors has had on their daughters. Here are some of their comments:

“The RHSB Ten Tors 18 event has been a marvellous exemplar for the girls. The girls have all learned some wonderful life lessons. They can reflect that from September 2017 to May 2018 a relatively disparate group of girls was brought together, then through a blended mix of teaching of new skills and techniques, and training to use such skills, and then trialling these skills in real environments, which gradually increased in intensity and difficulty can (and does) result in success.

I suggest they have learned that no matter how fit, or skilled, or able each participant was initially and individually, it was the forging of a strong term identity and an awareness that at each level of improvement the girls could see that walking 35 miles in two days over very rough terrain carrying everything they needed was not only possible but that they could do so; and do so well was a tremendous confidence boost.

By the end of their training, they had confidence in their equipment, their map-reading skills and their personal fitness to meet the challenge. But principally they had an enhanced sense of self-confidence and a truly formidable team esprit de corps. Therefore, no matter how nervous they all may have felt on the Friday morning as they were about to get onto the mini-bus and travel down to Dartmoor. They knew that they were a team that had trained through rain, hail, fog, mist, snow and blazing sun around Bath and on Dartmoor. Each girl knew that no matter the route they would be allocated, that they, as a team, would succeed - and succeed well!

That is what they did. The whole team completed the task - as a team.

Having done so that they know that no-one can ever take away from them that sense of achievement, pride and the sheer joy the whole team enjoyed as they marched through the finishing arch at Okehampton Camp, grouped proudly behind their School flag. They have learned so much. Arguably they may not even have realised just how much, but: pre-planning, preparation, team dynamics, team loyalty, self-sacrifice, perseverance, grit and determination, and calmness under pressure were all experienced in the training and on the event. A wonderful experience and a superb achievement.

We as parents owe a great deal of thanks to Mr Hardcastle, but also to Mrs Williams, Mr Leather and all the other staff who gave up your time to support the challenge. Thank you all for giving so generously of your free time, and for your unstinting support and encouragement to the girls.

Roll on RHSB Ten Tors 19!”

“I would urge other parents to encourage their daughters to participate. I think my daughter has grown in confidence, self-belief and ability immeasurably as a result of taking on the Ten Tors challenge. I think that it takes confidence for a girl just to put themselves forward for the Bath training, knowing that the process is a selective one that results in only 6+1 being chosen BUT even just taking that first step is incredibly worthwhile, knowing that one is willing to put oneself forward for a selection/challenge. However far they get on the journey, they will have grown and learned about themselves.”

For those in Year 9 – watch out for the launch of Ten Tors 19 in the Autumn. I can’t promise good weather, but I can promise a challenge that will push you beyond your perceived limits and give you an experience that you will remember for life!

Written by Bethany Ede, Mr Hardcastle and parents of the team.