Dartmoor Discovery


The Dartmoor Discovery is an ultramarathon run around Dartmoor in early June. The race is entirely on roads. It starts and finishes in Princetown, famous as the home of Dartmoor Prison. The current distance is 52.115 km. Entrants are required to have completed a Marathon on an 'average' course in less than 5 hours. The 2018 race was the 20th running of the race. There is a limit of 260 entries for the race.
The main features of the race are the delightful countryside of Dartmoor and the associated hills. The total rise of the hills is about 1200 metres. Because of the hills, times are typically about 50% longer than those of a flat Marathon, even though the course is only 10 km longer than a Marathon.
There are 10 refreshment stations at which water is provided. Facilities are made available for the runners to take their own food and/or drinks from the start to these stations.

History

The race was first run in 1998 on a slightly longer course which involved the final section from Two Bridges to Princetown going past Dartmoor Prison instead of on the direct route. The same course was used in 1999 and 2000. It was also used in 2018 to celebrate the twentieth running of the event.
The race was cancelled in 2001 because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak and since 2002, the race has been run on the current, slightly shorter route.

Course

The race begins in the centre of Princetown and goes along the B3212 to Two Bridges. The race then turns east along the B3357. This section is relatively flat until the road drops down into Dartmeet at about 9.5km.
The road now rises steeply onto YarTor Down before falling again, passing Poundsgate, until it reaches New Bridge. The road then rises again before falling to Holne Bridge. The road is now relatively flat and passing Peartree Cross reaches Ashburton at about 21km.
This is the lowest part of the course after a drop of 350 m from the start despite some steep climbs.
In the centre of Ashburton the course takes the road to Buckland in the Moor and rises to Ausewell Cross before dropping to 205 m just before Buckland in the moor. At Stone Cross the route turns right onto Pudsham Down when the runners take a sharp left turn down into Widecombe-in-the-Moor at about the 32km point.
Turning left take the road towards Ponsworthy but after about 2km turn right and onto the moor again. The road travels north passed Rowden Cross and Longworthy before the runners turn left. This road is followed until the B3212 is reached soon after the Marathon distance.
Turning left the B3212 soon passes Postbridge and eventually reaches the B3357 at Two Bridges. The runners then return to Princetown by the B3212.

Past Results

The winners of the races are given below. The first three races were run on a longer course, as was the 2018 Anniversary race.
YearFirst ManTimeMenFirst WomanTimeWomenFinishers
1998Brian Davidson3:56:3679Peggy Wiseman5:38:02483
1999Mike Jacobs3:58:5299Hilary Walker4:48:0910109
2000Shaun Milford3:51:5585Hilary Walker4:53:591196
2001CancelledCancelled
2002Mike Feighan3:36:1864Carolyn Hunter-Rowe4:20:12670
2003Mike Feighan3:44:4576Christine Costiff4:41:141591
2004David Stone3:51:4876Heather Foundling-Hawker4:30:0024100
2005Brian Cole3:39:2196Heather Foundling-Hawker4:17:1627123
2006Brian Cole3:49:27110Heather Foundling-Hawker4:05:3844154
2007Brian Cole3:44:58126Heather Foundling-Hawker4:07:5034160
2008Brian Cole3:47:51124Adela Salt4:02:3630154
2009Alan Ryder3:43:4389Emily Gelder4:39:1229118
2010David Stone3:50:53101Helen Taranowski4:18:4629130
2011David Tomlin3:57:48118Diane Roy4:29:5028146
2012John Ward3:33:36137Isobel Wykes4:07:3238175
2013Robin Tuddenham3:57:42143Isobel Wykes4:21:5340183
2014John Ward3:29:24Lucy Richens4:16:04202
2015Toby Chapman3:51:42Helen Anthony4:18:29194
2016Simon Longthorpe3:48:01Holly Rush4:03:15196
2017Adam Holland3:44:22Lynette Porter4:15:28192
2018Adam Holland3:58:43Emily Warren4:59:17186

The current best times are given below
YearNameTime
2014John Ward3:29:24
2012John Ward3:33:36
2002Mike Feighan3:36:18
2005Brian Cole3:39:21
2005Brian Hennessey3:41:33
2009Alan Ryder3:43:43
2009Mark Croasdale3:43:44
2012David Stone3:43:59
2017Adam Holland3:44:22
2003Mike Feighan3:44:45
2007Brian Cole3:44:58

YearNameTime
2008Adela Salt4:02:36
2016Holly Rush4:03:15
2006Heather Foundling-Hawker4:05:38
2012Isobel Wykes4:07:32
2007Heather Foundling-Hawker4:07:50
2017Lynette Porter4:15:28
2014Lucy Richens4:16:04
2016Naomi Flanagan4:16:04
2005Heather Foundling-Hawker4:17:16
2015Helen Anthony4:18:29
2010Helen Taranowski4:18:46
2016Isobel Wykes4:19:38