Thousands 'excited' for 'adventure without adults'

Thousands of young people will be navigating, unaided, across rugged Dartmoor terrain this weekend.

It is not a youth version of Race Across the World though, it is instead the British Army's annual Ten Tors Challenge.

Teenagers aged between 14-19 will take part in the two day expedition attempting 35, 45 or 55 mile events. Sheldon School from Chippenham is competing for the 11th time.

Humanities teacher and Ten Tors team manager for Sheldon School, Richard Page, said the benefits of taking part in the challenge could not be measured.

Mr Page had his first taster of the Ten Tors Challenge as a Year 9 student.

Sixteen years later he remains dedicated to training and taking teams from Sheldon School to take part in the event.

He said: "The benefits of Ten Tors are not something you can put on a league table.

"For us, it's seeing how they develop as young people, how it gives them confidence, how it encourages them to try something that is out of their comfort zone.

"How do you measure that, I have no idea?"

Across the years the Ten Tors Challenge has had a big impact on Mr Page.

He said: "It's probably the reason I'm a teacher. It's given me a love for the outdoors.

"Some of my first dates with my now wife were spent hiking.

"It's been a massive part of my life."

Fifteen-year-old Rowan said he was feeling "confident" ahead of the challenge.

"I know this team's very strong.

"Ali's the glue of the group, he's a great team leader.

"As a team we try to keep our navs (navigators), Libby and Amelia, in good health because they're the people getting us to the finish line and they're very good at their jobs.

"If we work together as a team we can get there in a very good time," Rowan said.

Anneka, who is 14, will be a team leader for one of Sheldon's 35 mile teams.

Preparing to take part for the second time she said: "You can't really describe it.

"Being at a camp with 2,000 young people and all going off for an adventure without any adults.

"It's something you remember.

"I'm feeling nervous but excited."

As a team leader for a second year in a row, Anneka has a good idea of how to keep team morale high.

She said: "You have to keep checking up on people.

"Celebrate even when the smallest things go well.

"Things like singing, making jokes - anything you can to stop people thinking about the things that might start dragging them down."

Former pupil, Kieran Pidgeon, 27, completed the 45 and 55 mile challenges as a Sheldon student.

He is now one of a number of former students who return to help new teams prepare for the event.

He said: "There's a lot of us who do come back.

"We come back because we love helping out, seeing how everyone's developing, enjoying themselves."

Ten Tors 2024 - Wiltshire entrants: