THE Dartmoor Discovery 32 miles Ultra Marathon takes place on Saturday June 7, starting and finishing in Princetown.
The race starts at 9.30am from outside the Railway Inn and Plume of Feathers Inn and the route takes the runners through Two Bridges, Dartmeet, Poundsgate, New Bridge, Ashburton, Buckland in the Moor, Widecombe in the Moor, Soussons Forest, Postbridge and back to Princetown via Two Bridges.
The race is held annually and this year?s event will be the fifth in the series.
The 2000 event attracted more than 130 runners, one of the biggest fields for an Ultra Marathon in Great Britain.
The course is the toughest in England, with 4,000 feet of ascents, coupled with many long and steep descents, but Ultra runners love a challenge and few fail to finish.
Apart from the 54 mile London to Brighton classic, the Discovery is the only road Ultra Marathon in England and is twinned with the 34-mile Two Bridges Road Race held in Scotland each year.
Competitors completing this year?s Two Bridges Race in August and the Discovery in June 2004, will receive special awards at the Discovery Prize Presentation in the 2004 race.
Last year?s course was one and a half miles shorter than in previous year?s due to essential route alterations and it certainly proved popular with Mike Feighan, the eventual winner who hails from Bideford.
He scorched round the tortuous route in 3 hours 36 mins but unfortunately, he won?t be defending his title this year as he is having a break from long distance competition.
Extensive prizes are on offer including first Local and HM Forces awards and, new for 2003, a special award for the First Newcomer in the race to finish.
To present the extensive awards provided by Andy Lennon of the Mayflower Crystal glass company of Buckland in the Moor, will be Bruce Tulloh, ex Olympian, European Champion and of Across America fame.
Further details and entry forms from the race director, Phil Hampton, on 01752 401062 or Email: [email protected]">[email protected] or http://www.twobridgesrace.org">www.twobridgesrace.org