'IT was awesome, this is the must do half marathon of the spring! Love the new route,' commented Tobias Rankin, having completed the grown-ups version of the Tavy 13.

Glorious weather greeted the 374 finishers of the race.

A new course and low cost entry meant that there was a 45% increase in participants. The new course started on the track at Tavistock College and headed past Drake's statue before going onto Crease Lane and picking up the cycle track.

Having passed the West Devon Borough Council offices, the steep hill of Old Exeter Road tried to break the runners before they picked up the trail again at Kelly College, just past mile two. Still following the cycle trail the route dropped down to the A386 Okehampton Road, before crossing over Harford Bridge.

Course director Jessica Williams found a way of circumnavigating most of deadly Batteridge Hill. It was on this section at around five miles that eventual winner Stuart Hall managed to get away from second placed — and former winner of the race — Dave Tomlin from Torbay AC.

Having crossed the Princetown road at Blacksmiths Cottage the route then went via Moortown and around the eastern edge of Pew Tor.

After eight miles of hard work, runners were treated to a return to Tavistock past Warren's Cross, Fiveways and Whitchurch Down, before dropping down into Tavistock.

Runner up Dave Tomlin said: 'It was beautiful coming back across the moor, past the golfers.'

The final part of the race took runners along St John's Avenue next to the River Tavy and then followed the footpath around the back of Tavistock College before their final lap of honour on the track.

The ladies' race was also a hard fought affair.

Isobel Wykes, the England Ultra running international, held off the challenge of the experienced local distance runner Anne Luke by one minute 27 seconds.

Perhaps the loudest cheer at the finish line went to Norris Kington, who at 75 was the oldest finisher and to Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group, who took a stretcher around the whole route.

Major sponsors of the event were local estate agents, Gibbs Kirby, whose director Andrew Kirby said he was absolutely delighted with the success of the event.

'Not only did we have a large number of runners from West Devon but it was pleasing to see 42 runners from the Plymouth Musketeers club, 31 from Tamar Trotters in Saltash and strong support from Bere Alston Trekkers with 26 runners.

'It was truly a great running event and a great community event.'

The first three male runners were 1, Stuart Hall (Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue) 1hr 18min 12secs; 2, David Tomlin (Torbay AC) 1.19.05; 3, Simon Yeo (Tamar Trotters) 1.20.27. Ladies, 1, Isobel Wykes (Truro Running Club) 1.30.59; 2, Anne Luke (Tamar Trotters) 1.32.27; 3, Vikki Thompson (Fetch Everyone Running Club) 1.33.09.

Full results, including age category winners and a new age grading results feature, can be found at http://www.tavy13.co.uk">www.tavy13.co.uk