MILES of hazard-ridden terrain and blisters could not stop intrepid cadets from Weymouth completing an epic walking challenge.

Three teams from Budmouth College’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) attended the annual Ten Tors event on Dartmoor.

There are levels of the challenge – 35, 45 and 55 miles.

Teams start off early in the morning from their camp and have to walk the route stopping off at ten checkpoints on the hills or ‘tors’ along the way.

They camp overnight and have to cross the finish line by 5pm the next day.

The Devon moor is known for being hazardous and students have to navigate across it.

Budmouth Technology College CCF instructor Lieutenant Sam-antha Temple said she was very proud of all the teams.

She said: “They have all done incredibly well. We had 70 students who started the training and we whittled it down to three teams of six.

“The 55 mile team have done all three challenges. They should be very proud.

“They got in two hours ahead of anyone else. They would have been even earlier but there was a mistake with the check points. They did unbelievably well.

“This is the second year we have had all three teams come in and do really well. I am very proud of them all.”

She added: “I’d like to say a special thank you to all of the support team who came along to the event and to all the staff, parents and supporters who have given up their time to help out with training weekends, they did a fantastic job.”

Team Captain of the 55 mile team, Sam Davis, said: “The toughest bit was on the first day – it dragged on a bit. But being first back was great.

“We got up at 4am on Sunday to get past two teams that had over taken us and came in first.”

Team member Thomas Lewis, who is joining the Royal Marines, said the best bit was the start and finish. He added that the team would like to say thank you to Lt Temple.

The Ten Tors Challenge was started in 1960 after three British Army officers who had been camping on the moor started talking about what a challenge a youth event on Dartmoor would be.

Thousands of young people from across the country now take part in the event.