MORE THAN 50 Weymouth students are on course to complete their silver Duke of Edinburgh award this year.

The students from Year 11 at Wey Valley finished the challenge by taking part in two gruelling expeditions – cycling in Devon and walking over the Quantock Hills.

Head of PE Mark Salmon, pictured right, said the students had been ‘exceptional’ on the course this year and with more than 1,620 hours of volunteer work done in the community they had gained a diverse range of sports and skills.

He added that the cycle expedition, which included four teams of students, followed the Devon ‘Coast to Coast’ long distance route from Ilfracombe to Plymouth over three days.

He said: “The 110-mile route was planned, practiced for and executed indepen-dently by the students and proved a real challenge in navig-ation and fitness. The recent weather added to the challenge with fallen trees and saturated ground.” Liam Tewkesbury, a Year 11 student on the cycle expedition, commented on the preparation leading up to the expedition as students camped during the three-day venture and had to carry all the camping kit with them on their bikes. Liam said there was ‘great teamwork’ across the group as all students supported each other.

The walking expedition took place over the Quantock Hills for the assessment, with practice sessions in North Dorset.

Mr Salmon said: “The routes were a real challenge and the teams worked well together to travel and camp independently.

Highlights included good weather, visiting beautiful wild meadows and great camaraderie within the group.”

Annabelle Fall, in Year 11, who took part in the walking expedition, said she ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ the trek.