THE Gryphon School, Sherborne, entered six teams into the Ten Tors Challenge, more than they have ever entered before.

Teams of six students had to carry everything they needed to be self-sufficient and reach ten checkpoints over the course of two days and a night.

The Ten Tors Challenge is organised by the Army’s Headquarters South West with support from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, as well as civilian emergency services and hundreds of volunteers.

Thousands of young people take part in either the 35, 45 or 55-mile challenge distances across Dartmoor, starting and finishing at Okehampton.

The Gryphon teams trained since September for the challenge, with two teams doing 35 miles, three teams doing 45 miles and the Year 13 team taking on the 55-mile challenge. Five of the six teams completed the event.

The sixth team, the first ever team of Year 9 students, did not quite get there but are determined to go back next time and try again.

Gryphon challenge leader Geoff Cooke said: “We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part – they have put months of training into this, and they showed amazing determination and resilience.

“While our youngest team didn’t manage to finish this time, we are immensely proud of them and know they will come back next year older, bigger and ready to try again. If everyone completed it, it wouldn’t be challenge, but even doing the training is life-changing.”

As well as the six school teams, sisters Rose and Alice took part in the 45-mile challenge with 874 (Sherborne) Air Cadet Squadron, and Ben and Lewis took part with Dorset Army Cadets.