TEAMS from Budmouth College and Westfield College returned triumphant after conquering a Dartmoor challenge.

Two teams from Budmouth College Combined Cadet Force in Weymouth took on the Ten Tors 35 mile Challenge, while the team from Westfield took on the Jubilee Challenge.

70 Budmouth students started the training for the event in November, which included weekend and overnight treks and training weekends on Dartmoor.

The numbers were whittled down to the final two teams and the support team and they took to Dartmoor last weekend amid wet and windy weather.

The teams went down to set up camp at Okehampton and were challenged by Sturminster High School to a Dorset knob biscuit throwing competition.

Then on the Saturday at 5am the music started and the teams set off.

Staff could only wait and watch the team tracker as the students navigated across the moor.They have to visit Ten Tors on the journey. Staff said that Team A started off at a fast pace, eventually getting to their eighth Tor, on the Saturday evening and camping there overnight. Team B had a more reserved pace and managed to get to their fifth Tor.

Sunday morning was damp and misty but Team A stormed back to the finish by 10.12am - the fastest time of any previous Budmouth Team. Team B arrived back at a very respectable 2.57pm.

Budmouth College Ten Tors Team Manager Samantha Temple said that it had been and exceptional year for Budmouth, with two teams back in impressive times.

She said: “We are very lucky at Budmouth to have a team of staff and adult volunteers who give up their time to train and support our students, mainly at weekends, so they have the skills and experience to complete Ten Tors and we would like to thank them for this.”

Budmouth Principal David Akers said: “Both of the Budmouth teams performed really well over the weekend and as a College we are very proud of their achievements.”

Westfield students took on the Jubilee Challenge on the Saturday – there is a choice of four different routes to undertake.

Susie Jeffcott from the college said: “We had the biggest team we have ever had, with 20 pupils taking part at the weekend.

“The group has been amazing, ever since the first practise walk in October, they have helped each other, been polite and courteous at all times, not moaned or argued, they really have been exceptional and an asset to the school.

“The weather was poor on Friday and rather miserable on Saturday morning when we were preparing for the walk between 4.30am and 7.30am, however the skies cleared as the day progressed and our pupils arrive at the finish line to sunshine.

“Although I think our pupils beaming faces brought sunshine to everyone waiting at the finish line.”

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