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| Dartmoor Ten Tors challenge: Fifty three drop out | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| More than 50 youngsters have dropped out of the Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor with minor injuries. | |
| About 2,400 entrants aged between 14 and 19 are trekking up to 55 miles (89km) across Dartmoor. | About 2,400 entrants aged between 14 and 19 are trekking up to 55 miles (89km) across Dartmoor. |
| They set off on Saturday morning and face a night camping on the moor in winds of more than 50mph. | They set off on Saturday morning and face a night camping on the moor in winds of more than 50mph. |
| Organisers said by 16:00 BST 53 had dropped out, with some being airlifted off the moor, but the number was "not unusually high". | |
| The event, in its 54th year, is overseen by the Army in May every year. | The event, in its 54th year, is overseen by the Army in May every year. |
| 'More demanding' | 'More demanding' |
| Spokesman Ronnie Jones said those evacuated had the "usual sprains strains". | Spokesman Ronnie Jones said those evacuated had the "usual sprains strains". |
| He said: "The youngsters have been training for this throughout a pretty horrendous winter so they won't be strangers to wind and rain. | He said: "The youngsters have been training for this throughout a pretty horrendous winter so they won't be strangers to wind and rain. |
| "It's called a challenge for a reason, it is arduous going." | "It's called a challenge for a reason, it is arduous going." |
| All teams of six were being "monitored closely" by an operations room at Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor where the challenge ends on Sunday. | All teams of six were being "monitored closely" by an operations room at Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor where the challenge ends on Sunday. |
| Mr Jones said: "It might be a bit of a howl around their tent poles and its's pretty boggy under foot." | Mr Jones said: "It might be a bit of a howl around their tent poles and its's pretty boggy under foot." |
| Last year the Army announced changes to the route for 2014, which would mean fewer river crossings to reduce the need for air support in poor weather. | Last year the Army announced changes to the route for 2014, which would mean fewer river crossings to reduce the need for air support in poor weather. |
| Brig Piers Hankinson, director of Ten Tors, said: "The location of safety control points has moved closer to road heads rather than on top of the tors, while checkpoints remain on the tors. | Brig Piers Hankinson, director of Ten Tors, said: "The location of safety control points has moved closer to road heads rather than on top of the tors, while checkpoints remain on the tors. |
| "I believe these changes will not compromise the original aims of the event - to develop teamwork and practise navigation. | "I believe these changes will not compromise the original aims of the event - to develop teamwork and practise navigation. |
| "If anything the challenge will be more demanding, with the experience and appreciation of a high moorland location and the associated weather conditions of a challenging environment." | "If anything the challenge will be more demanding, with the experience and appreciation of a high moorland location and the associated weather conditions of a challenging environment." |
| The entrants will trek for 35, 45 or 55 miles, relying on their navigational skills and carrying all their food, water, bedding, tents and other essentials. | The entrants will trek for 35, 45 or 55 miles, relying on their navigational skills and carrying all their food, water, bedding, tents and other essentials. |
| It is run by more than 900 military personnel, almost all of them reservists. | It is run by more than 900 military personnel, almost all of them reservists. |
| The Army has appealed for visitors at the finish to share cars or take public transport amid treacherous conditions for vehicles on the moor. | The Army has appealed for visitors at the finish to share cars or take public transport amid treacherous conditions for vehicles on the moor. |
| In March 2007, 14-year-old Charlotte Shaw died after falling into a swollen river while training for the Ten Tors. | In March 2007, 14-year-old Charlotte Shaw died after falling into a swollen river while training for the Ten Tors. |
| Two months later hundreds of children had to be rescued when the challenge itself was abandoned because of torrential rain. | Two months later hundreds of children had to be rescued when the challenge itself was abandoned because of torrential rain. |