THE 12th Dartmoor Discovery 32 Mile Ultra Marathon takes place on Saturday, June 5, with runners starting and finishing in Princetown.

The race, sponsored by St Austell Brewery and The Plume of Feathers Inn, Princetown, will see around 150 runners, including 40 ladies, from all over the country and abroad, tackling this extremely tough, hilly one circuit road race.

The route takes competitors through Two Bridges, Dartmeet, New Bridge, Ashburton, Buckland-in-the-Moor, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Postbridge and back to Princetown via Two Bridges.

Last year's winner, Alan Ryder, of Erme Valley Harriers will be defending his title. In a very exciting finish last year, he pipped Mark Croasdale of the Royal Marines, by one second in a last gasp sprint to the line.

Four time previous winner of the mens event, Brian Cole of the Royal Marines, will be here again to try to make it five.

The ladies race will be wide open, although Heather Foundling-Hawker of Honiton, who has also won the event four times, may be competing if her training, after injury, goes well.

The 1974 European and Commonwealth marathon champion, Ian Thompson, will be starting the race and also presenting the many awards in the Plume of Feathers Inn, prior to the evening after-race disco and dance.