Dartmoor Discovery
Encyclopedia
The Dartmoor Discovery is an ultramarathon
run around Dartmoor
in early June (recently the first Saturday in 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 (32 miles 674 yards). Entrants are required to have completed a Marathon
on an 'average' course in less than 5 hours (or something equivalent). The 2010 race was the twelfth running of the race. There is a limit of 200 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 (nearly 4000 ft). 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.
to Princetown going past Dartmoor Prison
instead of on the direct route. The same course was used in 1999 and 2000.
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.
mapping six-figure grid reference at an altitude of 420 metres) and goes along the B3212 to Two Bridges
( 340m). The race then turns east along the B3357. This section is relatively flat until the road drops down into Dartmeet
( 225m) at about 9.5km.
The road now rises steeply onto YarTor Down (355m) before falling again, passing Poundsgate
, until it reaches New Bridge ( 100m). The road then rises again (155m) before falling to Holne Bridge ( 60m). The road is now relatively flat and passing Peartree Cross reaches Ashburton ( 70m) 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 ( 290m) before dropping to 205 m just before Buckland in the moor
( 230m). At Stone Cross ( 280m) the route turns right onto Pudsham Down ( 360m) when the runners take a sharp left turn down into Widecombe-in-the-Moor
( 240m) at about the 32km point.
Turning left take the road towards Ponsworthy but after about 2km ( 295m) turn right and onto the moor again. The road travels north passed Rowden Cross and Longworthy before the runners turn left ( 315m). This road is followed until the B3212 is reached ( 375m) soon after the Marathon distance.
Turning left the B3212 soon passes Postbridge
( 315m) and eventually reaches the B3357 at Two Bridges
( 340m). The runners then return to Princetown ( 420m) by the B3212.
The current best times are given below (3:50 for men, 4:30 for women)
Graham Baker has completed all 12 races to date.
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
run around Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
in early June (recently the first Saturday in June). The race is entirely on roads. It starts and finishes in Princetown, famous as the home of Dartmoor Prison
Dartmoor (HM Prison)
HM Prison Dartmoor is a Category C men's prison, located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor...
. The current distance is 52.115 km (32 miles 674 yards). Entrants are required to have completed a Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
on an 'average' course in less than 5 hours (or something equivalent). The 2010 race was the twelfth running of the race. There is a limit of 200 entries for the race.
The main features of the race are the delightful countryside of Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
and the associated hills. The total rise of the hills is about 1200 metres (nearly 4000 ft). Because of the hills, times are typically about 50% longer than those of a flat Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
, even though the course is only 10 km longer than a Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
.
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 (54.918 km, 34 miles 219 yards) which involved the final section from Two BridgesTwo Bridges
Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. It is situated around north east of Princetown on the old turnpike road which was built across Dartmoor in the late 18th century ....
to Princetown going past Dartmoor Prison
Dartmoor (HM Prison)
HM Prison Dartmoor is a Category C men's prison, located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor...
instead of on the direct route. The same course was used in 1999 and 2000.
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 (Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
mapping six-figure grid reference at an altitude of 420 metres) and goes along the B3212 to Two Bridges
Two Bridges
Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. It is situated around north east of Princetown on the old turnpike road which was built across Dartmoor in the late 18th century ....
( 340m). The race then turns east along the B3357. This section is relatively flat until the road drops down into Dartmeet
Dartmeet
Dartmeet is a popular tourist spot in the centre of Dartmoor, Devon, England at .It lies at the end of the B3351 road, about east of Two Bridges. From here, the road continues eastwards as a minor road with restrictions on the size of vehicles, past Poundsgate and over Holne Bridge and New Bridge...
( 225m) at about 9.5km.
The road now rises steeply onto YarTor Down (355m) before falling again, passing Poundsgate
Poundsgate
Poundsgate is a small village in Dartmoor, Devon, England, located on the road between Ashburton and Princetown.The postal area of "Poundsgate" is a wide geographical area. There are a few cottages clustered around a popular stopping point for travellers, the Tavistock Inn, which is thought to date...
, until it reaches New Bridge ( 100m). The road then rises again (155m) before falling to Holne Bridge ( 60m). The road is now relatively flat and passing Peartree Cross reaches Ashburton ( 70m) 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
Buckland in the Moor
Buckland in the Moor is a village and civil parish in the Teignbridge district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 94. The village is in Dartmoor....
and rises to Ausewell Cross ( 290m) before dropping to 205 m just before Buckland in the moor
Buckland in the Moor
Buckland in the Moor is a village and civil parish in the Teignbridge district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 94. The village is in Dartmoor....
( 230m). At Stone Cross ( 280m) the route turns right onto Pudsham Down ( 360m) when the runners take a sharp left turn down into Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a small village located within the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. . The name is thought to derive from 'Withy-combe' which means Willow Valley....
( 240m) at about the 32km point.
Turning left take the road towards Ponsworthy but after about 2km ( 295m) turn right and onto the moor again. The road travels north passed Rowden Cross and Longworthy before the runners turn left ( 315m). This road is followed until the B3212 is reached ( 375m) soon after the Marathon distance.
Turning left the B3212 soon passes Postbridge
Postbridge, Devon
Postbridge is a hamlet in the heart of Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. It is situated on the B3212, roughly midway between Princetown and Moretonhampstead....
( 315m) and eventually reaches the B3357 at Two Bridges
Two Bridges
Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. It is situated around north east of Princetown on the old turnpike road which was built across Dartmoor in the late 18th century ....
( 340m). The runners then return to Princetown ( 420m) by the B3212.
Past Results
The winners of the races are given below. The first three races were run on a longer course.| Year | First Man | Time | Men | First Woman | Time | Women | Finishers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Brian Davidson | 3:56:36 | 79 | Peggy Wiseman | 5:38:02 | 4 | 83 |
| 1999 | Mike Jacobs | 3:58:52 | 99 | Hilary Walker | 4:48:09 | 10 | 109 |
| 2000 | Shaun Milford | 3:51:55 | 85 | Hilary Walker | 4:53:59 | 11 | 96 |
| 2001 | Cancelled | Cancelled | |||||
| 2002 | Mike Feighan | 3:36:18 | 64 | Carolyn Hunter-Rowe | 4:20:12 | 6 | 70 |
| 2003 | Mike Feighan | 3:44:45 | 76 | Christine Costiff | 4:41:14 | 15 | 91 |
| 2004 | David Stone | 3:51:48 | 76 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:30:00 | 24 | 100 |
| 2005 | Brian Cole | 3:39:21 | 96 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:17:16 | 27 | 123 |
| 2006 | Brian Cole | 3:49:27 | 110 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:05:38 | 44 | 154 |
| 2007 | Brian Cole | 3:44:58 | 126 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:07:50 | 34 | 160 |
| 2008 | Brian Cole | 3:47:51 | 124 | Adela Salt | 4:02:36 | 30 | 154 |
| 2009 | Alan Ryder | 3:43:43 | 89 | Emily Gelder | 4:39:12 | 29 | 118 |
| 2010 | David Stone | 3:50:53 | 101 | Helen Taranowski | 4:18:46 | 29 | 130 |
The current best times are given below (3:50 for men, 4:30 for women)
| Year | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mike Feighan | 3:36:18 |
| 2005 | Brian Cole | 3:39:21 |
| 2005 | Brian Hennessey | 3:41:33 |
| 2009 | Alan Ryder | 3:43:43 |
| 2009 | Mark Croasdale | 3:43:44 |
| 2003 | Mike Feighan | 3:44:45 |
| 2007 | Brian Cole | 3:44:58 |
| 2008 | Brian Cole | 3:47:51 |
| 2006 | Brian Cole | 3:49:27 |
| Year | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Adela Salt | 4:02:36 |
| 2006 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:05:38 |
| 2007 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:07:50 |
| 2005 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:17:16 |
| 2010 | Helen Taranowski | 4:18:46 |
| 2002 | Carolyn Hunter-Rowe | 4:20:12 |
| 2002 | Vicky Skelton | 4:22:49 |
| 2008 | Simone Stoeppler | 4:25:55 |
| 2004 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:30:00 |
Graham Baker has completed all 12 races to date.