ULTRA runners from all around the country will descend on Princetown on Saturday for the popular Dartmoor Discovery race.

The event will see 240 athletes attempt to complete a tough 32 mile course around the undulating roads of Dartmoor.

The race starts in Princetown at 9.30am and will take competitors through Dartmeet, Poundsgate, Newbridge, Ashburton, Buckland-in-the-Moor, Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Postbridge before heading back to the start.

If running 32 miles was not hard enough, all runners have to make cut off times at three marks around the course and finish in under six-and-a-half hours.

Athletes have to reach 13.5 miles in two hours and 40 minutes, 20 miles in under four hours and 26.2 miles in five hours and 15 minutes. Any runners who fail to make those marks will be ask to withdraw from the race.

Organisers had no problem filling up the race this year, with athletes entered from, among other places, Kent, Essex, Milton Keynes and London.

Tamar Trotters and Plymouth Musketeers have entered in large numbers, while fellow local clubs Bere Alston Trekkers, Erme Valley Harriers, Plymouth Harriers and Plymstock Road Runners will also be represented.

Last year’s race saw Bideford’s veteran athlete John Ward set a new men’s course record of 3:29.24.

The women’s record has stood since 2008 when Trentham’s Adela Salt set it at 4:02.36.

There is a bonus of £100 for anyone to break either main record on Saturday.

For athletes who prefer much shorter distances then Tavistock Athletics Club will be hosting the second Devon Open track and field meeting of the season on Sunday.

The meet will start at 11am and run through to 4.30pm.

There will be events for all age categories from under-10s to veterans.

For more information on the open meeting click here 

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