The Stonar Way 15.05.26

Ten Tors this year was really a tale of three teams. We obviously had three teams entered for the event; one 45-mile team and two 35-mile teams. However, we also had three teams of people that made the event happen.

In the first instance, it was the pupils. As staff we never fail to be impressed with the calibre of the pupils who step up to the challenge of Ten Tors. These young people are willing to give up their time to spend weekends on Dartmoor. As we know the conditions on Dartmoor are challenging; driving rain, deep bogs, steep hills, poor visibility, freezing conditions and our pupils turn up, kit on and dive in. They regularly complete days of 20 miles plus, navigating themselves without assistance across the moors to a reward of a rehydrated meal and a drafty two-person tent, pitched on a hillside. What is more impressive is that they do this without even a guarantee of a place on a team.

This year we had several pupils who had trained for the event last year and had not been selected. In a world where young people are not often told ‘no, you haven’t made the grade’, for these pupils to have the resilience and determination to take their learning from last year, build on it and try again was truly impressive. And they had learnt, they had improved, and they did make the teams this year, when it would have been so much easier to give up when they were disappointed last year. I think this speaks volumes about the type of young person who is successful at Ten Tors. They are not looking for an easy life, they are prepared to put in time and effort and when things go wrong, they don’t give up, they keep trying and they are determined to succeed. It is these qualities that saw our 3 teams put in such fantastic performances this year.

The second team who make the event happen are the Stonar Ten Tors staff. Ably led with military precision by Mr Burns, they also commit huge amounts of time and effort to ensure the pupils are well trained and able to represent the school at the highest level. Mr Burns has to have a great deal of confidence in his staff. We are sent out across the moors on our own, tracking down teams to offer advice, and navigational guidance – we do not sit in laybys by a minibus waiting for them to walk past us. We also walk similar distances and camp in tiny tents (however we do sometimes get a pub meal if we’re lucky!). It’s difficult to get a picture of what it’s like as a team of staff managing groups of young people you are not actually with, but looking through our WhatsApp messages gives a bit of an idea:

David, the ford crossing between Cosdon Hill and Higher Tor is currently good to cross. Only ankle deep.

1350 Charlotte/Kate 35As gone off route. If not careful they will wander into TT out of bounds area and bogs

I’ve been trying to get hold of their phones but can’t get through. Heli, I think you need to go for a run!!!

Finally, our new favourite team that enables Ten Tors at Stonar to take place – the Parents. Not only do they make sure that their children are well equipped and committed, they also show pretty solid levels of commitment themselves. We have seen parents driving their children to Dartmoor after other sporting fixtures, changing family plans, not having their children for birthdays and Mothers’ Day, buying huge quantities of snacks and no doubt dealing with piles of wet and stinking kit after each weekend. At the event itself, they are there, ready to walk to the start line from 6.00 in the morning, having come down the night before and stayed in the less than salubrious Exeter Services Travelodge. They are there giving last minute hugs and then watching with tears in their eyes as their children, with 2000 others, line up on the hillside ready for the cannon to fire and the challenge to begin.

As we return to the mess tent for the Stonar hospitality of bacon butties, pain au chocolat and hot drinks the team of parents bond as a group who now realise quite what their children have been training for and what a privilege it is to take part.

On Sunday morning the parents return (having all been to the pub together the night before – well done parents, good effort!) to help us break camp (shout out to Mrs Singleton and Mrs Dallard, my mess tent folding queens) and then we go to watch our teams across the line.

At the this point all three teams come together, parents and staff are cheering for the Stonar teams, regardless of who is in them. Hugs and congratulations are coming from all directions and as the teams sit on the grass enjoying their well-deserved pasties, there is a definite feeling of a job well done from a combined effort from us all.

We can’t wait for next year....