THE 11th annual Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon started off in Princetown on Saturday in cloudy but ideal conditions for the runners of which there were 132 starters on the 32 mile challenge.

The race, sponsored by St Austell Brewery, was started by Ian Thompson, the 1974 European and Commonwealth marathon champion and record holder in the 56 mile London-Brighton race.

Phil Hampton, the race director who organised the event, said: 'This is the toughest ultra road race in the country, with more than 4,000 feet of ascents and descents, all on the road.

'After leaving Princetown, the race start, the runners proceed to Two Bridges, Dartmeet, Poundsgate, New Bridge, Ashburton, Buckland-in-the-Moor, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Postbridge and back to Princetown via Two Bridges.

'There were two local runners from Tavistock AC,  Adam Holland and Gavin Punchard but, unfortunately, the weather turned very nasty after about 45 minutes, with persistant rain and the temperature plummeting to just five degrees Centigrade around the Postbridge and Widecombe area.

'This was the main cause why Adam failed to finish, but it was the first time he had run this very tough course and combined with the cold it was just a bit too much for him. 

'On the other hand, Gavin ploughed on and finished in a very respectable 23rd place in a very good time of 4 hours 44 minutes.

'There was a tremendously tight finish in the men's race with the winner, Alan Ryder, from the Erme Valley Harriers club, pipping Mark Croasdale of the Royal Navy by just one second in a sprint for the line.

Three runners from Okehampton Running Club took part in the event. Gavin Punchard (who also runs with Tavistock RC), Bryan Friend and Roger Voaden completed the 32 mile course in a competitive time of 4hrs 44 minutes.