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Ten Tors Team College-to-Coast Challenge
In November 2020, students in the Fourth Year and Lower Sixth started training to take part in the gruelling “Ten Tors 2021”, 35-mile and 45-mile challenges held annually in Dartmoor. The teams were formed and training started with a 6-hour hike in daylight, dusk and dark in the South Downs area. Shortly after this the country went in to lockdown. Students were tasked with continuing to train in their own time and in their local areas (within the restrictions), and to record their training using a tracking app (Strava) sending screenshots as proof to the leaders. Unfortunately however, the teams were disappointed to hear that due to continuing government restrictions, “Ten Tors 2021” had to be cancelled by the organisers.
Inspired by Old Churcherian’s Will Duke and Adam Childs, no strangers to the Adventurous Activities Department, who had been hiking extensively during lockdown and creating their own routes, a new challenge emerged. The pair had created a route between Churcher’s Senior School and Funtington Churchyard which is the location of the grave of Richard Churcher, founder of the school. With routes extended to reach the coast at East Head, the “Ten Tors Team College-to-Coast Challenge” was created - a 45-mile (72km) route with 1034m ascent for the Lower Sixth students, and a 35-mile (56km) route with 810m ascent for the Fourth Year students. A total of 27 students signed up to take part.
Group training then re-commenced on 17 April with a seven-hour hike into the QE Park including navigation training using the Orienteering Course; followed by an eight-hour training hike on 24 April which covered half the distance of the challenge, so 17 miles for the Fourth Years and 23 miles for the Lower Sixth, again finishing in dark to test navigation.
The teams were now ready to undertake the 2-day challenge.
On Saturday 8 May the teams set off from Churcher’s College shortly after 8am. The 35-mile teams headed south and hiked through Buriton, West Marden, Stoughton, and Kingley Vale to reach the Funtington churchyard. The 45-mile teams headed east towards Durford and Woolbeding before turning south to go through Bepton and over the South Downs to Stoughton, Kingley Vale and Funtington Churchyard.
The teams reached Funtington Churchyard by late afternoon and, after a quick chat with the Mr Williams (Headmaster) and Mrs Dixon (Deputy Head), and some blister treatment, they continued on their set route. Unfortunately, due to on-going restrictions as a result of the pandemic, the teams were unable to camp and had to return home in the evening.
On Sunday 9 May, the teams were driven to their Saturday finish points, to set off again on their routes. They hiked via Chichester, Hunston and Itchenor to finish victoriously at East Head (West Wittering) on Sunday afternoon where they were met with a wall of admiration and pride by parents, Mr Williams, Mrs Dixon and the Ten Tors Leader Team Dr Verney, Mrs Byford, Miss Jones, Captain Kelson, Mr Maginnis, Mr Maguire, Mrs Harris (and remotely Miss Jones, Mr Byford and Mr Rashleigh).
Our thanks go to all those involved and also to our patient and skilled photographer Mr Huggan.
Churcher's College, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 10813349 and registered charity number 1173833
