Marathon winner gifted entry as Christmas surprise

The winner of a marathon said he had not planned to take part in the challenge but was gifted his entry as a surprise Christmas present from his wife.

More than 500 runners set off on the 26-mile Dartmoor Marathon from Tavistock on Sunday, which returned after a 40-year break.

Richard Gould from Bicester, Oxfordshire, won the race, completing the challenge in two hours and 56 seconds. "Up until Christmas Day, I did not know I was coming," he said. "That was a big surprise."

Race organiser Dave Chanter said competitors "seemed to have enjoyed the course and enjoyed the day", adding "most runners are going to appreciate the beauty" of Dartmoor.

The marathon started and finished in Tavistock and wound its way across Dartmoor National Park.

Winner Gould said he was "over the moon" with his success.

"I was hoping for sub three hours," he added.

"Those hills are challenging, that last few hills, 20 miles, oh yeah, that's really quite hard."

The runner said the scenery was "absolutely beautiful", adding it was "a little bit windy on the return pass, Princetown, but after that it was amazing, absolutely amazing weather".

Joanne Page, from Okehampton, was the first woman to finish the race.

She said she would be celebrating her achievement with an ice cream.

"It was everything," she said. "I love Dartmoor."

Page said the wind made the race "tough" as the runners headed out of Princetown.

"You think you've done all of the hills but then it's a bit undulating," she said.

Chanter said the area was "so stunning", adding "the idea was that it's good for the town but also good for the runners".

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