FOOTSORE and weary, thousands of youngsters straggled down the final hill to the Ten Tors finish line at Okehampton army camp cheered on by waiting families.

At the weekend, 2,400 young people in 400 teams set off on the most gruelling challenge of their lives, walking 35, 45, or 55 miles across rough Dartmoor terrain and camping out for the night. A further 250 less-abled youngsters, many in wheelchairs, took part in the no less challenging one-day Jubilee Challenge in routes of up to 15 miles. The Army's HQ 43 Wessex Brigade at Exeter, which organises the challenge, were calling this the best year yet. Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, Ten Tors director and brigade commander, said on Sunday that it had been a 'fantastic event'. 'Dartmoor is a real challenge and all the participants have met that challenge head-on. 'What you see, as they cross the finishing line is a real sense of achievement, a sense of teamwork and the spirit that runs within each team.' But he emphasised that it was not a race and that everyone taking part should be congratulated on their efforts. The event, in its 46th year, is a massive operation involving Army, Navy, RAF and police personnel, not to mention volunteers from Dartmoor Rescue Group and St John Ambulance. 'Put my feet in a blender,' joked Sam Wainwright, team leader of 1st Kingkerswell Scouts, on completing the bronze challenge. James Brock, team leader of 1st Bovey Tracey Scouts, said it went fine. 'We had no navigation problems. There were queues on the tors of about five minutes.' The 1st Highweek Scouts lost one team member, Alastair Cockburn, who retired with stomach pains after 18 miles. Teignbridge District Scouts silver team also lost a team member, Andrew Hounsell, who struggled with a painful achilles tendon for 28 miles before withdrawing. Ivor Kingwell, who managed all six Scout teams, said he was very happy with their training and performance. 'They have been training every fortnight on the moor for the whole weekend from the end of January through to May, so they are fully committed.' For the Knowles Hill team, an early navigational error spelt disaster. The group of three girls and two boys missed their first tor, putting them an hour behind from which they never recovered. They arrived 10 minutes late at tor 10 and were told they could not continue. 'There were absolutely gutted,' said team manager Lyndsay Cooper, adding that they want to take another crack at it next year. A multi-national team of one Australian, two Germans and three Brits from Stover School successfully completed the bronze course. 'We got to the seventh tor on the first day and were very happy,' said Laura Agnew, team leader. For Stefan Croot, from South Dartmoor Community College, Sunday had an extra significance, being his 17th birthday. He and his team arrived at the finish to the embarrassment of banners, balloons and a rendition of Happy Birthday from his family. Proud mum, Sue Croot, said: 'I think it is brilliant. It is fantastic for him. It's both about the physical effort and stamina and team-work. It's a huge achievement. They have all done really well.' From Sunday lunchtime on they streamed in thick and fast. Triumphant they may have been, but there was no mistaking the relief as they shrugged off their rucksacks for the award ceremony. 'Sterling effort guys!' came the enthusiastic commentary from the public address system as they stumbled on to the podium, many by now sporting grass skirts, affro wigs and other fancy dress. Then handing over medals to waiting parents and munching chocolate and Kendal mint cake, they made off to the nearest pasty and soup stand.