Gordonstoun students took part in a gruelling endurance challenge running in pitch darkness through woodland and mud.
The school, set in 200 acres of countryside by the Moray Firth, is world renowned for its co-curriculum which includes getting students involved in outdoor learning and adventure activities.
Now, a new cross-country fitness event called ‘Dark Skies’ has been created following a recent revamp of the school’s timetable. Timetable changes are designed to further ‘challenge’ students, provide them with new ‘life skills’ and expose them to a wider range of activities, all carefully balanced with their academic studies.
The ‘Back to the Future’ approach draws on the founding principles of Gordonstoun, which includes ‘fitness training’. Time has been freed up at weekends to allow the students to take part in a range of outdoor activities such as climbing, canoeing, snow holing, mountain biking and powerboating.
Almost 200 boys and girls, aged between 15 and 18 years, took part in the cycling and running off-road event in the school grounds, covering a total of just over 1,100km.
The relay event ran non-stop for 12 hours, with the last five hours taking place in darkness before it finished at 10pm.
Ibrahim Park, Outdoor & Adventure Learning Coordinator, said:
“A key part of the curriculum at Gordonstoun is pushing students out of their comfort zone. Not only was a large part of this event in the pitch dark but at various points the students were on their own for around 10 minutes between marshall points.
“However, they were equipped with a head torch so they could navigate around the course. There was a tremendous competitive spirit amongst the teams and even as we approached the 12-hour mark, there was only a lap in it.
“We had students of all abilities taking part, some who could run a marathon and others who were more comfortable cycling or running a few kilometres.
“It was a major logistical exercise to keep the event going smoothly for the 12 hours, but the students were really organised, even using AI to get all the timings right between each hand over.
“Although everyone was exhausted by the end, they took a lot out of the event. It was a unique experience which I hope will ignite a spark in the students to take part in further challenges.
“For some it was the most exciting thing they have ever done, for others it will be an experience they bank and draw on later in life.”
The event involved cycling on mountain bikes on a 4km loop for the first six hours, while the second half consisted of competitors running a 3km loop.
Seven boarding houses took part with the winning boys’ team (Bruce House) completing a total of 49 laps and the winning girls’ team (Hopeman House) finishing first with 43 laps.
Principal Peter Green said:
“Gordonstoun’s founder Kurt Hahn identified the importance of better equipping our young people to cope with the pace and challenges of modern life.
“His solution was to focus on four key areas – fitness training, expeditions, special projects and rescue services.
“These principles remain just as relevant today. So, this year we have gone ‘Back to the Future’ by looking to the past to reimagine the Gordonstoun week and provide a better future experience for our students. One of the significant changes is creating more time during daylight hours at the weekend for adventure activities, carefully balanced with the students’ academic studies.
“Some of the challenges facing young people today require resilience and adaptability. The Dark Skies event was a great physical challenge for the students and a real test of their fitness and resilience.”
Categories: Gordonstoun School News
