THE Rotary Club of Okehampton held its third annual Rotary Autumn Challenge OK last Saturday— one of a number of fundraisers throughout the year.

The Autumn Challenge OK sees teams of three to six people walk across the moor for either 15 or 18 miles. Fourteen teams gathered at Bellever YHA before 8am on the day. As the challenge began there was wind and rain with very poor visibility, but shortly after teams started leaving the starting line the low cloud cleared and gave way to a sunny, clear day.

Ten of the teams walked the 15-mile route while four teams elected to follow the longer 18 mile route. There were clues to follow and questions to answer around the route which contributed to their final score.

Starts were staggered so that the last teams to leave went on their way as the first teams reached Widecombe in the Moor, where the first check point, manned by Rotarian Terry Hoar and his wife Val, was located on the village green.

The 15-mile route differed from the longer trek; from Widecombe green the teams turned north to follow the Two Moors Way across Hamel Down to Hameldown Tor, they rejoined the longer route to Bennett’s Cross. They also skirted Soussons Wood, then passed through Pitzwell to Postbridge before returning to Bellever YHA. The first team home was the North Wyke team.

Rotarian Dave Potter said: ‘The teams taking part all arrived back at Bellever YHA during the late afternoon, exhausted by their efforts but exhilarated by the challenge and the beauty of the moorland countryside they had traversed.

‘The fund raising aspects of the day involved the teams paying an entry fee and seeking sponsorship to contribute to Rotary Club funds for local charities.’

The main beneficiaries from the day’s activity are Devon Air Ambulance and the North Dartmoor Rescue Group. The final figure raised will not be known until all the sponsorship is in but it is expected to be a substantial sum.