To commemorate the event’s 60th anniversary, one team from The Gryphon School took part in the Ten Tors Challenge last month wearing original 1960s kit.
As per Ten Tors rules, students covered either 35- or 45-mile distances, carrying all the equipment needed for the two-day hike across Dartmoor.
The ‘1960’s team’ of Ed, Ed, Leon, Ewan, Malachi and Louie wore original items that were sourced over the past year to ensure an authentic experience of what the Challenge was like for the original participants.”
Ed Smith, 17, said: “Our outfits consisted of lightweight pale green trousers, black boots, puttees/gaiters, base T-shirts, army shirts and smocks and an authentic headdress.
The clothes proved to be surprisingly comfortable as well as practical. However, the rucksacks were painful and incredibly hard work. Two members in my team, Louie and Leon, had frame carriers which were by far the hardest to pack and carry, as they required endless adjusting and were susceptible to breaking.
Despite the uncomfortable rucksacks, we had the time of our lives doing Ten Tors and felt over the moon to cross the finish line after the endless hours of training and planning.”
The team was honoured at the end of the challenge to be greeted by six veterans of the original Ten Tors.
Geoff Cooke, Gryphon Challenge manager, said: “It is a huge achievement to complete the Ten Tors. We support students to take part as it builds confidence, teamwork, resilience and independence – qualities that will serve them well in the future. The Army organisation of the Challenge is outstanding and of course none of this would be possible without the volunteers, who support all our training and practice walks – parents, staff and members of the community – so a big thank you to them!”
