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Man Versus Horse Marathon
12th Jun 2010
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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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A great day with a record turnout, 253 runners, 115 relay teams and 50 horses entered the race. 44 horses ran, making it the largest horse race in the UK. Weather was hot and sunny with a breeze in the air making record times unlikely. The winner this year was local horse rider, Llinos Jones on her horse, Sly Dai in a time of 2.07.04. Fastest runner was Bristol based Haggai Chepkwony in a time of 2.17.27.
Feedback from competitors and organisers was very positive and the evening celebrations continued into the early hours.
Full results attached.
PLEASENOTE THAT THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER, CHRIS PRITCHARD HAS OVER 400 IMAGES FROM THE EVENT. A SMALL SELECTION ARE IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE CONTACT cHRIS DIRECTLY IF YOU WISH TO USE ANY OF THESE OR GAIN ACCESS TO OTHERS - 01591 610837
Registration from 8am at Bromsgrove Hall for runners and at Railway Station for riders
Runners start at 11am with horses starting at 11:15am
Times are adjusted at the end, plus additional time adjustments at the vets discretion should they decide that horses require a 10 minute resting period at the mid way vet check - this time adjustment will be confirmed at the briefing before the start of the event. Any rest instigated by the vets is out of our control and in the best interest of the horses
Please note that the race limits the number of horses to a maximum of 50. Horse and reders MUST pre-enter, no on the day entries will be accepted.
Runners and relay teams entering after the closing date will be subject to an administrative surcharge (Runners will be charged at £22 and relays at £60)
Closing date for receipt of pre-bookings is 5th June 2010
PHOTOS...
| Please click on any of the thumbnails to view an enlargement. |
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| You can order high quality prints of these and many other photos taken at our events from the Gallery section of the site! |
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