ONE of the best ever ? that was the verdict following last weekend?s Ten Tors challenge, which saw 2,400 youngsters tackling the gruelling two-day trek across Dartmoor. Around 400 teams were waved away from the start of the event at Okehampton Camp early on Saturday morning by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the army?s commander in chief and Major General Andrew Farquhar, who commands the Army?s 5th Division. The teams? challenge was to cover 35, 45 or 55 mile routes across the moor, including an overnight camp. Shortly after, some 250 less able-bodied young people, many in wheelchairs, tackled their own event, the Jubilee Challenge. Ten Tors is organised by the Army?s Wessex Brigade, with back up from the Royal Navy, the RAF, the emergency services and the Dartmoor Rescue Group ? a huge undertaking involving almost 500 personnel. Army spokesman David Harris said: ?It was a hugely successful event, and the weather was absolutely ideal for us. ?It was a joy to see the elation mixed with sheer exhaustion on the faces of the youngsters as they finished. ?It?s a great pleasure for us to come to Okehampton and deliver this and we are indebted to the local community for putting up with us.? The first team back to Okehampton Camp at 8.42 on Sunday morning was a 45-mile team from Ely in Cambridgeshire. Coming in shortly after them was a 45-mile RNLI team from Teignmouth. In third place was the 45-mile team from Ivybridge Community College. The first 55 mile team home was from Kelly College in Tavistock, who virtually sprinted to the finish line to beat a rival team. Mr Harris said just 246 youngsters dropped out of this year?s Ten Tors challenge. ?There were no significant adverse episodes ? the youngsters who fell out of the event were largely tired and emotional and there were the odd few strains and sprains,? said Mr Harris. The Molly Owen Centre in Tavistock entered a team for the Jubilee Challenge for the first time this year. Team manager Helen McFarlane said Brian Williams, Shaun Edney and Simon Wilkinson completed the course in just under nine hours. She said she was ?very proud? of their determination to complete the challenge. ?They even asked if they could run the last bit so they could get back before 5pm ? they really enjoyed it,? she said.
