Two employees from Barnstaple’s Golden Coast claimed the top spot in Active Devon’s Big Devon March — a month-long campaign that encourages workers across the county to become more active in their everyday walking routines.

This year, over a thousand people took part in the challenge and it was Lorraine Irwin and Heather Mock from Golden Coast — the UK’s largest independent distributor of products for the swimming pool, hot tub, spa and sauna industry — who topped the leaderboard.

Hearing of the news, Jamie Adams, Managing Director of Golden Coast said: “It’s brilliant to see Team GC win big at this year’s Big Devon March. We employ 33 people at the company, who all love being active — everything from scuba diving to marathon running to boxing.”

Lorraine and Heather recorded the highest average number of steps for this year’s Big Devon March — clocking up over a million between them, and walking more than two hundred miles in the last two weeks of the challenge.

Heather, the Administration Team Leader said: “It’s fantastic to place first, but it felt just as rewarding to have explored our beautiful region. I walked part of the Tarka Trail across North Devon and explored some of the pathways along the Tiverton to Taunton canal, as well as my daily morning and lunch time walks.”

Company Accountant Lorraine added: “It was fun taking part in a team event and becoming more active. The challenge inspired me to take walks during my lunch breaks too.

“We both certainly feel the benefits of walking a lot more and feel both physically and mentally healthier.”

For more information on Golden Coast, call 01271 378100, email here or visit www.goldenc.com