Last weekend J-F Gear Tester Mike Gormley was presented with a Diamond Ten Tors Award for services rendered over three decades, writes Bob Morrison.
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In simple terms Ten Tors is an endurance and navigation event for teams of six teenagers held annually on Dartmoor and organised by the British Army since 1960. Distances covered are between 35 and 55 miles over a weekend with an obligatory night spent ‘under canvas’. Mike has been a supporter since his sons were teenage participants and has continued to impart his experience and knowledge to countless youngsters during pre-event training and over the TT event weekends each May. This was his citation at the end of this year’s iteration:-
“For three decades, Mike has been the quiet engine behind countless successful Ten Tors journeys. From all-terrain support that never falters, to hot chocolate that restores spirits better than any ration pack ever could, he’s been a constant source of steadiness and warmth. His photographer’s eye has captured the moments we’d otherwise forget, and his experience as an outdoor explorer has guided generations safely across the moor.
“Mike, your service hasn’t just supported Ten Tors — it has shaped it.”
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