Steve Birkinshaw will defend his title with team member Jethro Lennox
National park bosses say a mountain marathon being held in their area will be a boost to the local economy.
The Original Mountain Marathon will take place at the end of this month on Dartmoor and already more than 3,000 runners and walkers have entered the event.
The teams of two will be based at Okehampton Camp during the weekend of 30 and 31 October. Eight different courses will test competitors’ stamina, fitness, navigational skills and their ability to traverse the rugged Dartmoor terrain.
Last year’s winning duo Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox will return to defend their title in the elite class, with munro-round record holder Stephen Pyke again partnering veteran Tim Laney. Last year they came sixth in the OMM held in the Elan Valley in Wales.
Jethro Lennox, who won the event with Steve Birkinshaw in 2010
The OMM, which started life as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon, has been run since 1968, taking on its present guise in 2006. It has been held once before in Dartmoor, in 1982.
In 2008, the event found itself at the centre of a media storm when torrential rain and high winds forced the abandonment of the marathon, prompting Honister Mine owner Mark Weir’s comment: “We have come within inches of turning the Lake District mountains into a morgue,” described by police as a little exaggeration.
Andrew Watson, principal access and recreation officer for Dartmoor National Park Authority said: “Dartmoor National Park Authority has worked with the OMM organisers, Natural England and landowners to minimise any impact on Dartmoor’s special qualities and to avoid any disruption for residents and other visitors as much as possible.
“We expect that the additional numbers of visitors to the Dartmoor area over the weekend will give a real boost to local business and the organisers have been encouraged to source local food and services.”
Andrew Denton, OMM events director said: “We are very pleased to be able to use Dartmoor national park, one of Britain’s breathing spaces.
“Its cultural heritage and ever changing landscape provides a rich environment for our local and international mountain athletes to test their outdoor skills to the full. For those for whom this is their first visit, I am sure they will return again. We are also grateful for the support of Lieutenant Colonel [Tony] Clark and his staff at Okehampton Camp.”
Runners in the elite class cover more than 90km over the two days of the event – the equivalent of two marathons. Competitors in the OMM are not allowed to use GPS devices and mobile phones must be sealed for emergency use only.
