Man versus Horse Marathon


The Man versus Horse Marathon is an annual race over, where runners compete against riders on horseback. The race — which is a shorter distance than an official marathon road race — takes place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells every June. There are other Man versus Horse races in Scotland based at Dores, near Loch Ness, Central North Island, New Zealand and in Prescott, Arizona.

History

The event started in 1980, when local landlord Gordon Green overheard a discussion between two men in his pub, the Neuadd Arms. One man suggested that over a significant distance across country, man was equal to any horse. Green decided that the challenge should be tested in full public view, and organised the first event.
The first woman to run the race was Ann King in 1981. In 1982, the route of the course was amended slightly to give a more even match between the competitors. The course is slightly shorter than a traditional marathon at a reported 22 miles, but over rougher terrain. In 1985, cyclists were allowed to compete too - and that year, U.S. ladies' champion cyclist Jacquie Phelan narrowly lost to the first horse. In 1989, British cyclist Tim Gould beat the first horse by three minutes - the first time that a horse was beaten by a human in the race.
In 2004, the 25th race was won by Huw Lobb in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 19 seconds. It was the first time that a man racing on foot has won the race, thereby winning the prize fund of £25,000, which had been growing by £1,000 each year from the race's inception until claimed by a winning runner. The year's race also saw the highest ever number of competitors; 500 runners and 40 horses. The feat was repeated in 2007, when human competitors outpaced the first equine competitor by up to 11 minutes.
The 2009 race was marred by controversy when the organizers deducted time spent in the 'vet checks' from the horse times in addition to the 15 minutes for the delayed start of the horses. The deduction of this additional time enabled the horse to triumph by 8 minutes, instead of being defeated by 2. Whilst the organizers at the time claimed that the time spent in the vet check had always been deducted, this had not occurred in previous years. The fastest runner, Martin Cox, refused to accept the winners trophy in protest at the decision. Following protests from other competitors, the organizers reverted to the previously followed rules of only deducting 15 minutes for the 2010 edition of the race. However, despite Haggai Chepkwony running the fastest time since Huw Lobb's record-breaking effort in 2004, a horse triumphed by 10 minutes. 2011 featured a number of very good riders and horses competing, and the wet track conditions favored horses over runners, but some very good times were recorded by the front runners. The winning rider was Beti Gordon riding Next in Line Grangeway, while the top runner was Charlie Pearson from London.
2012 saw the return of Huw Lobb, the runner who first beat the horse and landed £25,000 as a bonus. His winning time was, however, considerably down on his winning time from 2004. Coming 3rd in the Cork Marathon just five days earlier may have contributed to his running slower than perhaps he might have been able to. In 2013, extensive forestry works meant the organizers had to modify the route considerably, resulting in a course of nearly 24 miles, instead of the usual route of just under 21 miles. Despite a very hot day, the longer and hillier course favoured the horses, with 2011 winner Beti Gordon comfortably beating the first man, Hugh Aggleton.
The 2013 race attracted an entry of 65 horses, with 44 completing the course, enabling it to lay claim to being "the world's largest horse race". Following a number of criticisms of the extended course in 2013 and 2014, the course for 2015 was shortened back towards 21 miles. This provided a more even match between man and equine, with Geoffrey Allen on Leo emerging victorious by just over 10 minutes from Hugh Aggleton. It was Allen's 4th outright win, and his 5th time as first horseman, having been beaten by Florian Holzinger in 2007.
In 2019, several media reports suggested American ultra-runner Michael Wardian was a serious contender to beat the horse and win the prize of £3500. As it turned out, not only did Wardian not beat the horse, he couldn’t beat the humans either; Jack Wood from Ilkey R.C. was first human finisher in a time of 2:23:48, over 5 minutes adrift of the Horse.

Winners

Note that the times are not necessarily comparable from year to year due to changes of the rules and the course layout.
YearWinnerFastest HorseFastest RunnerWeather ConditionsGoing
2019HorseMark Adams on Woottonheath Herbie Jack WoodCoolSoft to Heavy
2018HorsePeter Davies on Ronnie Joe Dale Rain/SunSoft
2017HorseIola Evans on Rheidol Petra Owen Beilby RainyHeavy
2016HorseLindsey Walters on Deliva Crianza Ross MacDonald Cloudy and HumidGood, Good to soft in places
2015HorseGeoffrey Allen on Leo Hugh Aggleton Rain/WarmGood to Soft
2014HorseGeoffrey Allen on Leo Jonathan Albon Warm to HotGood to Soft
2013HorseBeti Gordon on Next in line Grangeway Hugh Aggleton HotGood
2012HorseIola Evans on Rheidol Star Huw Lobb CloudyVery Heavy
2011HorseBeti Gordon on Next in line Grangeway Charlie Pearson Rain/Sun/WindyHeavy
2010HorseLlinos Mair Jones on Sly Dai Haggai Chepkwony HotGood to Soft
2009HorseGeoffrey Allen on Dukes Touch of Fun Martin Cox HotHeavy
2008HorseGeoffrey Allen on Dukes Touch of Fun John Macfarlane HotGood to Soft
2007HumanGeoffrey Allen on Lucy Florian Holzinger HotGood to Firm
2006HorseDenise Meldrum on Tarran Bay Haggai Chepkwony WarmSoft
2005HorseLise Cooke on Gifted Lady Stephen Goulding UnknownUnknown
2004HumanZoe White on Kay Bee Jay Huw Lobb HotUnknown
2003HorseRobyn Petrie-Ritchie on Druimguiga Shemal Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
2002HorseRobyn Petrie-Ritchie on Druimguiga Shemal James McQueen UnknownUnknown
2001HorseHeather Evans on Royal Mikado Martin Cox UnknownUnknown
2000HorseHeather Evans on Royal Mikado Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
1999HorseJackie Gilmour on Ruama Mark Palmer UnknownUnknown
1998HorseJackie Gilmour on Ruama Stuart Major UnknownUnknown
1997HorseMegan Lewis on Silver Sea Gem Paul Cadwallader UnknownUnknown
1996HorseKen Mapp on Ahmaar Mark Palmer UnknownUnknown
1995HorseKen Mapp on Ahmaar Paul Cadwallader UnknownUnknown
1994HorseCelia Tymons on Eskalabar Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
1993HorseJohn Hudson on unknown Robin Bergstrand UnknownUnknown
1992HorseZoe Jennings on Hussar Derek Green UnknownUnknown
1991HorseZoe Jennings on Hussar Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
1990HorseRay Jenkins on The Doid and Chris Powell on Elkie Glyn Williams UnknownUnknown
1989HorseRay Jenkins on The Doid Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
1988HorseJohn Davies on Mavies Mark Croasdale UnknownUnknown
1987HorseRay Jenkins on The Doid and Bill George on Mando Paul Wheeler UnknownUnknown
1986HorseNia Tudno-Jones on Jenny Fuselier Hughes UnknownUnknown
1985HorseNia Tudno-Jones on Jenny David Woodhead UnknownUnknown
1984HorseWilliam Jones on Solitaire David Woodhead UnknownUnknown
1983HorseAnn Thomas on Nutmeg Dic Evans UnknownUnknown
1982HorseSue Thomas on Simon Paul Brownson UnknownUnknown
1981HorseClive Powell on Sultan Dic Evans UnknownUnknown
1980HorseGlyn Jones on Solomon Dic Evans UnknownUnknown