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Man Versus Horse Marathon
14th Jun 2008
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The Man v Horse Marathon began in June 1980 following a chat over a pint in the Neuadd Arms Hotel. The then Landlord, Gordon Green overheard two men discussing the relative merits of men and horses. The enterprising Gordon, never one to miss an opportunity to promote Llanwrtyd Wells and improve business at his hotel, decided to put it to the test. And so began Green Events and its first, longest standing and now internationally acclaimed event, The Man versus Horse Marathon.
The course was changed in 1982 to provide a more even match between the man and the horse resulting year on year in very close finishes - sometimes with the horse winning by only a few seconds. It took 25 years before a man finally beat a horse, Huw Lobb won in 2hrs and 5mins beating the fastest horse by 2 minutes.
Course Details
The race starts in the Town Square and is run over a 22 mile course through some of the finest scenery in Mid Wales using a mixture of farm tracks, footpaths, forestry roads and open moorland. There are a few short distances over tarmac. It is very hilly with a total ascent of 3000ft. The course is fully marshaled and signposted with plenty of water stations plus good vantage points for spectators.
Relay teams run 3 almost equal stages. Horses are required to pass a vet check at the mid-way point. The following details the relay stages to give you a good indication of the whole course, which, apart from a small section, is the same for the horses and riders
Stage 1: Total length 7.75miles
Start Grid Ref. 879467Finish Grid Ref. 860531
Start Level 200m ODFinish Level 250m OD
Comprises 2 miles of tarmac road 200m rising to 400m, followed by 1 mile open hill roughly level at 400m, 4.25 miles forestry section and rough tracks, steeply undulating down to 300m, up to 400m and down to 250m, finishing with 1/2mile generally level tarmac road.
Stage 2: Total length 7.25miles
Start Grid Ref. 860531Finish Grid Ref. 912524
Start Level 250m ODFinish Level 200m OD
Comprises ¼ mile tarmac road with short sharp rise, followed by farm track and rough open hill rising to highest point on the course, 500m OD, then steep descent to 400m at forestry of 3 miles. 2.5miles of forestry roads and ⦩rebreaks⬠relatively level, then 1.5miles steep descent through oak woods finishing at 200m OD.
Stage 3: total length 7miles
Start Grid Ref: 912524Finish Grid Ref; 867469
Start Level 200m ODFinish Level 200m OD
Comprises 1/2mile tarmac road then 2 miles steep ascent and steeply undulating farm tracks and rough running to Bwlchmawr Farm. Followed by 1mile tarmac road, then 3.5miles of farm tracks, river crossing, undulating hill sections of rough tracks to Finish at Victoria Wells at 200m OD.
The race finishes at Victoria Wells Centre along Victoria Road a short walk (approx 1 mile) from the Town Square.
There are three main spectator points.
at Abergwesyn ⢠car park field available (subject to weather conditions)
at Llwynmadoc
and at the Finish at Victoria Wells
We also have a preferred photographer, local man Chris Pritchard, who takes our event photos and makes them available to us. They are also available for you to purchase. For more information you can call Chris via the tourist information centre on 01591 610666
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2008 invited a huge amount of interest with There were 414 entries and 360 finishers, 299 runners, 74 relay teams and 42 horses.
This years race was won by horse and rider; Dukes Touch of Fun ridden by Geoffrey Allen of Bewdley. They completed the race in 2:18:13, making for an exciting finish with the fastest runner, John Farlane of Thames Hare and Hounds finishing in 2:18:43. Geoffrey Allen also rode the fastest horse, Lucy, last year but did not manage to beat the fastest runners.
This was the first year in its 29 year history that the Organisers had offered the £1000 prize money to the fastest of either rider or runner. So for the first year ever, the prize money has gone to a rider �" well done Dukes Touch of Fun.
The fastest lady this year was last years winner, Louise Barker in a time of 2:57:57, beating her time from 2007 by 9:41 seconds.
For a look at the ITV coverage of this event please go to our links page
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