Dartmoor Discovery

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 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 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2002, the race has been run on the current, slightly shorter route (the only exception being in 2018 as noted above).

The race begins in the centre of Princetown (Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference {{gbmappingsmall|SX591735}} at an altitude of 420 metres) and goes along the B3212 to Two Bridges ({{gbmappingsmall|SX608750}} 340m). The race then turns east along the B3357. This section is relatively flat until the road drops down into Dartmeet ({{gbmappingsmall|SX672732}} 225m) at about 9.5km.

The road now rises steeply onto YarTor Down (355m) before falling again, passing Poundsgate, until it reaches New Bridge ({{gbmappingsmall|SX712708}} 100m). The road then rises again (155m) before falling to Holne Bridge ({{gbmappingsmall|SX730706}} 60m). The road is now relatively flat and passing Peartree Cross reaches Ashburton ({{gbmappingsmall|SX756699}} 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 ({{gbmappingsmall|SX739721}} 290m) before dropping to 205 m just before Buckland in the moor ({{gbmappingsmall|SX721731}} 230m). At Stone Cross ({{gbmappingsmall|SX719746}} 280m) the route turns right onto Pudsham Down ({{gbmappingsmall|SX731746}} 360m) when the runners take a sharp left turn down into Widecombe-in-the-Moor ({{gbmappingsmall|SX718768}} 240m) at about the 32km point.

Turning left take the road towards Ponsworthy but after about 2km ({{gbmappingsmall|SX711751}} 295m) turn right and onto the moor again. The road travels north passed Rowden Cross and Longworthy before the runners turn left ({{gbmappingsmall|SX697778}} 315m). This road is followed until the B3212 is reached ({{gbmappingsmall|SX657797}} 375m) soon after the Marathon distance.

Turning left the B3212 soon passes Postbridge ({{gbmappingsmall|SX648789}} 315m) and eventually reaches the B3357 at Two Bridges ({{gbmappingsmall|SX608750}} 340m). The runners then return to Princetown ({{gbmappingsmall|SX591735}} 420m) by the B3212.

The winners of the races are given below. The first three races were run on a longer course, as was the 2018 Anniversary race.

class="wikitable"
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
2011 | David Tomlin | 3:57:48 | 118 | Diane Roy | 4:29:50 | 28 | 146
2012 | John Ward | 3:33:36 | 137 | Isobel Wykes | 4:07:32 | 38 | 175
2013 | Robin Tuddenham | 3:57:42 | 143 | Isobel Wykes | 4:21:53 | 40 | 183
2014 | John Ward | 3:29:24 | | Lucy Richens | 4:16:04 | | 202
2015 | Toby Chapman | 3:51:42 | | Helen Anthony | 4:18:29 | | 194
2016 | Simon Longthorpe | 3:48:01 | | Holly Rush | 4:03:15 | | 196
2017 | Adam Holland | 3:44:22 | | Lynette Porter | 4:15:28 | | 192
2018 | Adam Holland | 3:58:43 | | Emily Warren | 4:59:17 | | 186
2019 | Kieron Summers | 3:57:02 | | Joanne Page | 4:50:40 | | 180
2020 | Cancelled | | | Cancelled | | |
2021 | Kieron Summers | 3:51:31 | | Hannah Bown | 4:37:46 | | 177
2022 | Ryan Snell | 3:46:27 | | Alice Smith | 4:23:41 | | 165

The current best times are given below (3:45 for men, 4:20 for women)

class="wikitable"
Year ! Name ! Time
2014 | John Ward | 3:29:24
2012 | John Ward | 3:33:36
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
2012 | David Stone | 3:43:59
2017 | Adam Holland | 3:44:22
2003 | Mike Feighan | 3:44:45
2007 | Brian Cole | 3:44:58

class="wikitable"
Year ! Name ! Time
2008 | Adela Salt | 4:02:36
2016 | Holly Rush | 4:03:15
2006 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:05:38
2012 | Isobel Wykes | 4:07:32
2007 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:07:50
2017 | Lynette Porter | 4:15:28
2014 | Lucy Richens | 4:16:04
2016 | Naomi Flanagan | 4:16:04
2005 | Heather Foundling-Hawker | 4:17:16
2015 | Helen Anthony | 4:18:29
2010 | Helen Taranowski | 4:18:46
2016 | Isobel Wykes | 4:19:38

• [http://www.teignbridgetrotters.co.uk/ Web site with entry form]
• [https://www.teignbridgetrotters.co.uk/our-races/dartmoor-discovery/previous-results Previous Results]

Category:Ultramarathons in the United Kingdom

Category:Sport in Devon

Category:Dartmoor