SOME 146 runners took to the hills in the gruelling Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon, which was organised by the Teignbridge Trotters, on Saturday with Tavistock's Adam Holland coming in a respectable fourth.

Adam, who completed the course in four hours and 16 seconds, also won the team prize with the 100 Marathon Club with David Ross and David Thompson.

The 32-mile race was won by David Thomlin of the Teignbridge Trotters in three hours and 57 seconds.

Adam, from Tavistock Athletics Club said: 'What a beast of a race it was too but the beauty of the course was in most places breathtaking, but then so were the hills which seemed never ending — after a 32 miler you're happy not to look back at the hills.

'The race was very well organised by Roger Hayes and I would say it was probably the most well organised race I have run in. The atmosphere was electric at the start, the race kicked off by having a rocket fired into the air (what a novelty) and we were informed that we could only start running when we heard the firework exploding in the air — this was fantastic!'

Adam also praised the pre- and post race organisation with an excellent selection of food and drink for the competitors. 

He added: 'It was a tough Ultra in my view about 9/10 on the Richter scale of ultras for that distance but if you want a challenge, then you'd love this race and I highly recommend it!'

David Ross from the 100 marathon club finished in 4.24.44 (seventh) and David Thompson finished in 4.48.15 (21st).

Other local runners taking part were: Diane Roy in tenth place (4.29.50), Rob Pick in 34th (5.01.18) and Mark Andrews in 43rd (5.17.26), all from East Cornwall Harriers, James Blight in 56th place (5.26.48), Jason Shipton in 64th (5.32.35) and Alan Williams in 80th place (5.40.38), all from Tamar Trotters, Andrew Bickle from East Cornwall Harriers in 82nd (5.44.08), Jane Bremner in 85th place (5.46.14) and Rebecca Fryer in 107th (5.58.57) both from Tamar Trotters and Melanie Ross in 116th place (6.06.21)and Ray McCurdy in 141st (6.30) from the 100 Marathon Club.