EXCITABLE and hardy youngsters gathered in their hundreds at Isca College to take part in the Exe Valley Challenge.

The event saw around 100 teams from schools in Exeter, including the Maynard School and Newtown primary, as well as far afield as schools from Branscombe, Bickleigh and the Culm Valley, take part to raise money for Hospiscare.

Junior teams strode out over a seven-mile course and senior teams for 10 miles around the city's greenbelt between Countess Wear and St Davids.

The overall winners were team 96 from Walter Daw Primary School who completed the seven-mile junior course.

The winners over the senior course were, team 80 from The Maynard School.

The Exe Valley Challenge is the brainchild of Clare Whittaker, Isca sports co-ordinator, who organised the event with geography teacher and Ten Tors co-ordinator John Miller.

She said: "We've been on a massive learning curve but we seemed to have done everything right.

"Isca has a legacy of heavy involvement in Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

"We have so many pupils who want to be out there walking and always have too many children wanting to take part than we can accommodate. I was asked to come up with an initiative to involve young people in outdoor activity and came up with the idea in November.

"I woke up one morning and the idea was almost fully formed.

"The Eve Valley Challenge is for pupils from Year Four to Seven. The Exmoor Challenge for our Year Eights and Years Nine to 11 can take part in Ten Tors."

She said the Parents and Teacher Association got involved and the idea quickly evolved.

She said: "We advertised through the Exe Schools Partnership and the East Devon Schools Partnership and had the most amazing response from other schools who lapped up the opportunity."

After the success of its debut, Clare said she hopes the Exe Valley Challenge will see more teams participate next year.

She said: "We've supported Hospiscare in the past. It's a charity for children, something local, and something that really makes a difference in the South West, so it seemed like the obvious choice."

Isca pupils Joe Chamberlain and his team carried The Baton on the challenge. The Baton is one of four handles from a stretcher used in battle in Afghanistan that represents the nations support for our forces.

Alan Rowe, from Honiton, came up with the idea of The Baton.

He said: "By the year 2012, The Baton will have been to the top of Mount Everest, the deepest possible depths of the sea on submarine, HMS Astute, and to the North and South Poles.

"It's not just about raising awareness about what's happening now in Afghanistan, but what's gone on before and what will come after when servicemen touch down on home soil, and their families."

Marisa Clements, 12, from Isca, said: "We partly wanted to do it for fun, but I want to go on to do the Exmoor Challenge next year and Ten Tors so this events seemed like a good start.

"Hospiscare is such a good charity, we wanted to help children who are terminally ill as we get to do so much, it's nice to do something for them."

Isca pupils, Jake Dewsbury, 12, said: "Walking and fresh air is good for you and is an easy way of getting exercise.

"It's important to do something for children who are less well off than us and who probably couldn't do the walk themselves — it's like we're carrying them on our shoulders."

Rosie Lyall, nine, from St Leonards Primary School, said: "I asked my friends if they would take part because I thought it would be fun and it's for a good cause. So far we've raised over £120."