| "What is Ten Tors?" | In
1959 three Army officers felt that
Dartmoor would
provide a challenge for civilians as well as soldiers, and Ten Tors was
conceived. (See: 'The Challenge').
The Ten Tors organising committee now sponsors two events
annually,
the Ten Tors Challenge and the Jubilee
Challenge. For Ten Tors, each team must walk one of 26
specified
routes over the formidable wild country of Dartmoor between ten
nominated
tors over two days. Distances of 35, 45 or 55 miles are covered
depending
on the age of the teams. (See: 'The
Charter') |
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| "Who makes Ten Tors happen? |
|
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| "Who can enter Ten Tors?" | Ten Tors is open to teams of six, in any male/female combination - aged between 14 and 19 - from schools, youth organisations (Scouts, Guides, Youth Clubs) and Service cadets based in the 7 Counties in South West England. (See: 'The Rules') | ||
| "When
do
entrants
have to be the qualifying age?" |
Entrants
must
meet
the age requirement for their chosen distance in the August
of the year of
the Event. The age requirements are:
(17 year olds must have previously completed a 45 mile route before they are eligible for the 55 mile route, and teams may be composed of males and females in any combination) 55 Mile Entry Requirements for 2008: Note: 17 year olds who trained for and entered Ten Tors 2007 in the 45 Mile category and were evacuated from Dartmoor, may be entered for the 2008 55 mile event, subject to their Team Managers assessment. Team Managers who require further clarification are to contact the Ten Tors Secretary on 01980 673083. |
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| "How can I get into a Ten Tors team?" | You need to approach your school or club for a place in their team. Applications for team entries will be made by them. Ten Tors is however very popular, and each year hundreds more applications for team places are made than the 400 that can be accepted. | ||
| "How can my organisation apply?" | By registering intent with the Ten Tors Secretary by the August of the previous year. This action places the organisation on the mailing list, but does not guarantee places. (See "When are the teams selected?", and the 'Contacts' page) | ||
| "Why is there a 400-team limit?" | Dartmoor is a unique place, and it would be destroyed by over-use of any kind. There are many competing demands for its space, habitat, food, minerals, etc... It exists in a critical balance which is under constant review. The 400-team limit was agreed partly to help maintain that balance, partly to limit the demands on the event organisation, and partly to retain one crucial aspect of Ten Tors - that teams should as far as possible be alone on the Moor, and rely on their own resources to meet the challenges it raises. | ||
| "Can I enter Ten Tors as an individual" | No. See "Who can enter Ten Tors?" above. | ||
| "When are the teams selected?" | The organiser's selection committee meets in December each year, and will normally advise organisations of the result of their application by letter early in the New Year. The list of successful entries will be published on this web site at the same time. | ||
| "When is Ten Tors?" | Ten Tors usually takes place on the second weekend of May each year. This may vary, depending on other events and constraints. | ||
| "When are teams told the route they're on?" | The assignment of Teams to Routes is made public at 10:00 on the Friday before Ten Tors weekend, as the teams register at Okehampton Camp. Teams will be advised at that time, and that information will appear on this web site, as close to 10:00 as possible. | ||
| "What is the Ten Tors prayer?" |
"O God who has made the Earth of
great beauty,
and who has given us the Spirit of Adventure, we thank you for the beauty of the world, for the courage and vigour of young people, for the companionship and for the opportunity to enjoy all these gifts. We pray that you will keep them safe on this great venture and grant that they may meet each challenge and difficulty with unselfish courage and so find the true spirit of comradship as shown to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord". Amen
(from the Ten Tors Event
programme)
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| "What is the Jubilee Challenge?" | The Jubilee Challenge is a one day event for less able-bodied youngsters who must cover one of four distances of up to 15 miles on foot or by wheelchair. This event is open to teams or individuals. (See: 'The Charter') |
| "Who can enter the Jubilee Challenge?" | Participation in the Jubilee Challenge is limited to about 200. Registered schools and organisations may enter individuals or Teams of Six. Each Team or individual is accompanied by escorts provided by the University of Exeter Training Corps. (See: 'The Challenge!') |
| "How can I enter the Jubilee Challenge?" | By registering intent with the Ten Tors Secretary by the August of the previous year. This action places the organisation on the mailing list, but does not guarantee places. (See the 'Contacts' page) |
| "When is the Jubilee Challenge?" | The Jubilee Challenge takes place on the Saturday of Ten Tors weekend. (See: "When is Ten Tors?" above). |
| "Where does the event take place?" | Both Ten Tors and the Jubilee Challenge start at Okehampton Army Camp, on the northern skirts of Dartmoor. They then head off following their allotted routes over the moor. |
| "Can I find a place in a team through the web site?" | No. You should approach your school or club for a place in their team. The Ten Tors event organisers - 43 (Wessex) - ensure that each organisation which successfully gains a team place for the event has team managers and trainers who are familiar with the dangers and challenges that Dartmoor poses. They are charged with ensuring that their team members are trained to meet and overcome those problems. A web site can't do that. |
| "How can I get in touch with the Event Organisers?" | Go to the Contacts page... |
| "How can I find my team on the web site?" | Try the Help page... |
| "How can I find out about ... on the web site?" | Try the Site Search page. This uses a powerful search engine to scan every word on every page on the Ten Tors site. If it draws a blank, its not here. |
| "What do 'Fallouts & Status' mean on the Route cards?" | Try the Help page... |
| "Do you have any team statistics before 1998?" | No, I'm afraid not. It
is possible
that they exist somewhere, on paper, but the Ten Tors web site came
into
being shortly after Ten Tors 1998. We have no access to data from
previous years - however, please go to the Denbury
Junior
Leaders website: www.denburyjuniorleaders.com
click on PHOTO - FILES, where you will find copies of Ten Tors
Brochures 1960 to 1964 and files for each year 1950 to 1967.
(Denbury junior Leaders are looking for brochures for 1965/1966/1967 -
copies would be appreciated if anyone has them!) And we do have a first hand report from 1960, courtesy of Kyle Evans, who was there: "I
noticed
in
FAQ
someone asked about Stats, your reply was there were no details prior
to 1998.
I may be of
some help, however small an item.
I lived my
first 17 years in Brecon, Sth Wales, and joined
the Cubs and progressed through to the Scouts, hence I got to know my
way up and over the Brecon Beacons very well, enjoyed every step.
In 1959 at 17
years old I joined the RAF Boy Entrants, and
did my training at Credenhill, Hereford. It is a well know saying
within the Armed Forces, Never Volunteer for Anything.
One day our
drill instructor had a word with me, knowing all
about me prior to joining up.
It seemed as
though he was looking for Volunteers to go on a
Walk. To get off some Square Bashing, I volunteered for the walk, along
with 9 other Boys, The D.I. took us out on training walks, and classes
for map reading and compass work, which I had learnt in Cubs and Scouts.
We were
eventually informed of the extent of the Walk.
Come time our
D.I. travelled down with us in the back of a
three tonner lorry, met up with all the other participants of the Walk.
To cut an
ever growing long story, we did the Walk, slept
out overnight between 2 groundsheets, as a full team of ten we
completed the Ten Tors Walk, within the time limit, in fact I think we
were the last full complement of 10 to finish within the time limit.
We did not have specialist walking boots, just our everyday issue Square Bashing Boots, not even treated leather, just Spit and Polish. Took some cleaning when we got back to camp ready for the dailly parade we had during our 18 months training. All the equipment we had on the walk was provided by he RAF, my Scout gear had to be left at home, no civillian clothes on camp for the first year of training. I still have my medal we were given, but sorry to say I have lost my certificate with all the postings. I hope this
goes some way to fill the archives of the Ten
Tors, as I would not have missed it for anything, in fact I have
continued walking, only recently having to call time as the wear and
tear on my knees tells me enough is enough."
Kyle Evans.
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| "Where is the best place to watch Ten Tors?" | Undoubtedly Okehampton
Army
Camp. Ten Tors starts at 07:00 on Saturday and runs through
to
17:00 on Sunday, while the Jubilee Challenge runs all day
Saturday.
The camp has plenty of car-park space, refreshments, and constant
updates
of team positions on the Moor. Plus you'll see the teams come in
throughout the day, to thoroughly deserved applause and awards.
If you can't get to the Camp, you can watch the teams' progress on this web site. Not as good as being there, but the data tracking the teams is just as up-to-date. |
| "Can supporters camp at Okehampton Camp?" | Supporters are not encouraged to use the Camp as a campsite as it is already terribly congested. There are plenty of hostels & campsites available in the area. The Team Managers have the details. |
| "What is the record for route ...?" | I have no idea. You could easily check the data on the pages available here, but Ten Tors really isn't about records, and it isn't a race. It is about team-spirit, supporting your mates and testing yourself against one of the most challenging tracts of land in England - you are a hero when you enter. |
| "When will my Team reach their next Tor/Finish?" | ...pieces of string come in many lengths. The 'Ten Tors Calculator' may help give an idea of what's possible, but your Team will arrive in it's own good time. |
| "What's the time on Dartmoor now?" |
The
time on the Ten Tors web server (fairly close to Dartmoor) is here... NB: this
is NOT the official Event time, which is held by the Ten Tors control
staff! 'Web
Clock'
with
grateful acknowledgements to Andrew Shearer
|
| "Is Ten Tors available on my WAP phone?" | Yes. The WAP interface to the Ten Tors Route Lists and Team Status data has been completely re-written to allow access from all WAP-capable phones, so you will be able to see the progress of individual teams during the event through your mobile. Key in the URL: http://WAP.ex.ac.uk/tentors/ on your phone, or for more details see the 'WAP and the Ten Tors Website' page. |
| "Was Ten Tors 2001 really cancelled?" | Yes. The announcement was made on the 13-March-2001. Ten Tors 2002 went ahead as planned, after the FMD outbreak was contained and eradicated. |
| "Did anyone finish Ten Tors 2007?" |
No.
Ten
Tors
2007 was stopped at the end of the first day, after the
directive had been issued to hold all Teams at the next Tor they
reached. Dartmoor had seen rain for a week, then Saturday added
another bucketful - or two. By the afternoon streams and rivers
across the moor, fed by the soaked ground, were full and flowing
fast. The routes of many Teams led them over stretches of
water which were impassable except by wide detour, or across ground
which was turning into mire. And Sunday was threatening
worse... For the first time in its history, although 400 Teams started Ten Tors, none finished. STATEMENT FOLLOWING DECISION TO END TEN TORS [2007] EARLY "Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the decision was taken at 21.30 [...] by the organisers of the Ten Tors Challenge to end the event early. "Our priority is to ensure all the people involved are as safe as possible. The weather forecast indicates that the rivers, which are already at their peak, will become increasingly swollen. "All participants will remain where they are currently camped - safe and with shelter and food. They will be moved off the Moor in an orderly and controlled manner [throughout Sunday]." |
If your question doesn't have an answer here, and you feel it could, email it to:
Dave Cannon
19-April-2010
