Exmouth Harriers “Magnificent 7” took part in the 23rd running of the legendary Dartmoor Discovery race, organised since 1998 by Teignbridge Trotters.
The Discovery covers 32 miles on the undulating roads of Dartmoor with over 4,000ft of elevation. It is the longest single lap road ultra-marathon in the UK and it takes in some of the toughest hills that Dartmoor has to offer. Starting and finishing in Princetown, the course goes via Dartmeet, Ashburton, Buckland in the Moor, Widecombe and Postbridge.
Four of the Harriers were first-timers in the DD, as it’s affectionately known, Hannah Bown was defending her title of First Lady finisher in the 2021 race. Chris Murrin was competing in his 7th Dartmoor Discovery and it was his 100th Marathon.
Chris ran his first marathon in the Dartmoor Vale event in Newton Abbot in 3.33.50 on 21st October 2012. The most marathons Chris has run in one calendar year is 16 during 2016 and his fastest time for the classic 26.2 miles is 3.11.30 in the London Marathon in 2015.
Chris broke his leg in January 2020, then Covid hit, so he didn’t do any that year until August and then he still managed to finish seven marathons before the end of the year.
Chris dedicated his 100th marathon to Bridget Dohoo, who encouraged him to start running. Sadly, Bridget passed away in 2013 and Chris wore a special “100 t-shirt” in the last half-mile to honour her.
Chris has now joined the 100 Marathon Club - an elite group of runners in the UK.
All seven Harriers finished in great shape to roaring applause from spectators and fellow runners. They all thoroughly enjoyed the event and expressed their thanks to Teignbridge Trotters for the superb organisation of the event and to all the family and friends for the support around the course.
The results for the Harriers: 27th Hannah Bown 4.48.17 (3rd Lady & 1st W40); 76th Craig Butler 5.33.38 (12th M50); 104th Kelly Thomas 5.52.00 (6th W45); 117th Chris Murrin 5.58.41 (20th M50); 121st Scott Jordan 6.03.25 (18th M45); 143rd Terry McKie 6.17.41 (27th M50); 157th Jimmy Joy 6.36.00 (8th M60)
Eight members from the Exmouth Harriers raced in the Run Exe 5km at Exwick in cold, wet and windy conditions.
This was the third event in the six race summer series and, once again, the Harriers achieved some terrific results, with Oli White finishing first in his age category and the same for Craig Butler.
Results: 4th Oli White 16.39 (1st M35); 27th Craig Butler 18.45 (1st M50); 52nd Hannah Bown 20.31 (2nd W40); 69th Andy Johnson 21.59 (2nd M55); 70th Jenny Reay 22.11 (2nd W60); 75th Steve Morgan 22.28 (2nd M65); 82nd Des White 23.09 (4th M65); 98th Alison White 26.25 (1st W65).
Ray Lewis competed in the 2022 British Masters Track & Field Championships at Moorways Athletics Stadium, Derby and won a British Masters Gold medal in the M75 800m in 3.56.90 plus he was 4th in the M75 400m in 1.36.61.
The British Masters is a Federation of geographically located clubs covering the whole of Britain & N. Ireland with over 5,000 active athletes from aged 35 upwards. The remit is to encourage, organise and regulate athletics in 5-year age groups for the ‘Master Athlete’.
The BMAF promotes many national championships annually including track and field (both indoor and outdoor), road running, race walking and cross country. The area clubs are involved in local leagues and in organising other races suitable for all standards. The BMAF was a leading member country in the formation of World Masters Athletics and later European Masters Athletics.
Becky Matthews was 2nd lady in 5.55.38 in Climb South West’s 50km race with over 5,000ft of elevation that started in Lyme Regis and finished on Exmouth Seafront with many severe ascents and descents on the magnificent South West Coast Path.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here