DESPITE the variation in weather the Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon proved a tough challenge for the 161 runners. The race across Dartmoor, sponsored by St Austell Brewery, ended with 151 completing the 32 mile course. It started in Princetown, where the runners headed for Two Bridges, Dartmeet, Ashburton, Buckland in the Moor, Widecombe in the Moor, Postbridge before heading back to Princetown. Torrential rain, hailstones, lightning and thunder spoilt the day, starting at around the half-way point of the course. 'The leaders missed the worst of the weather but the remainder battled through it all and did not seem to mind too much,' said race director Phil Hampton. The winner, for the fourth consecutive year was Brian Cole of the Royal Navy in a time of 3 hours 47 minutes 51 seconds, which was 11 minutes slower than the course record of 3hs 36mins set by Mike Feighan of Exeter in 2002. Mike Feighan was himself second this year in a time of 3hrs 53 mins 39secs. He led at Ashburton, with Teignbridge Trotters David Tomlin but Brian Cole overtoook them at around 20 miles and forged ahead for a convincing victory. In 3rd place was Iain Robert, also of the Royal Navy, in a time of 3hrs 56mins 55secs. In the ladies' race, Adela Salt of Trentham RC, Nottingham finished in sixth place overall and convincingly won the ladies' title with a new course record of 4hrs 2mins 36 seconds, knocking nearly three minutes from the previous ladies' record, held by the four times winner Heather Foundling-Hawker of Honiton. Heather, unfortunately, could not take part on Saturday due to injury. The team race was won by the Royal Navy for the second consecutive year with Teignbridge Trotters in second place. The ladies' team award went to Somer AC for the second year running.
