Pilton pupils power past the rest

A TEAM of Year 10 students from North Devon have earned their stripes at the 2009 Army Schools Challenge Shield. The Pilton Community College pupils powered past 24 teams from schools across Devon and Cornwall at the prestigious event held at HMS Raleigh

A TEAM of Year 10 students from North Devon have earned their stripes at the 2009 Army Schools' Challenge Shield.

The Pilton Community College pupils powered past 24 teams from schools across Devon and Cornwall at the prestigious event held at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint.

Following three days of stiff competition featuring commando tasks, obstacle courses, camouflage and paintball, Pilton were crowned overall winners alongside Bodmin College and the Plymouth-based Sir John Hunt Community College.

Pilton PE teacher, Wendy Roberts, said: "The way they worked so well together as a team was the reason for their amazing success."

Events were designed to encourage leadership, teamwork and co-operation and each day ended with a tug of war competition.

Previous winners of the School's Challenge include Poltair School (St Austell), Launceston College, and Uffculme School.

Event organiser, Major Arthur Norman-Walker, said: "We've had an excellent three days' of good competition.

"It's really rewarding to see young people learning to work together as a team, developing skills and putting their mental and physical abilities to the test; these are the sort of qualities we look for in young people when they join the armed forces.