Lining up for Man V Horse marathon

By Justine Thompson

General news

04 May 2010 11:37

Think you could beat a horse in a race?

Probably not. But there are some people who believe they could and they’re already lining up for the man versus horse race next month in Llanwrtyd Wells, Brecknockshire.

Pitting man against horse and rider, over terrain including farm tracks, footpaths, forestry roads, wetland and moorland, the 22-mile race has gained the small town national acclaim and has even attracted international interest.

Entries have already been received from most parts of the UK, and a few from overseas, as competitors try to join the successful two who have beaten the horse over the event’s 31-year history.

The Man V Horse Marathon takes place this year on June 12, and will start at 11am from The Square, Llanwryd Wells. Entries are now being welcomed by individual runners and relay teams of three.

Entrants can run for a charity of their choice and money raised from the event itself will be donated to a motor neurone disease charity.

The Man V Horse Marathon began in June 1980, following a discussion in the Neuadd Arms between two men debating which would win - man or horse?

Landlord Gordon Green overheard the conversation and decided there was only one way to find out – put the race to the test. It was 25 years before man finally beat horse, when Huw Lobb won in two hours and five minutes.

Last year there were a record number of entries, with 280 individual runners and 120 relay teams, making a total of 640 runners.

Anyone interested in participating this year can find out more on the event’s website www.green-events.co.uk.