Latest news with #ManvsHorse
Powys County Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Man vs Horse rider thrown and horse lost for over an hour
A COMPETITOR at last weekend's Man vs Horse race said she 'needed' to finish, after being thrown from her horse, who then bolted and was lost for more than an hour. Julie Griffiths heaped praise on event organisers and marshals, as well as runners who came to her aid when another horse reportedly barged into her and her horse, Swizz. Julie fell from the saddle, while spooked Swizz then darted off down the track, before he was found about an hour-and-a-half later at a nearby farm. Julie and Swizz recovered to finish in four hours, 27 seconds, which was good enough for 210th position overall, out of 712 finishers (including three-person relay teams) at the madcap race, held in the hills and forests surrounding Llanwrtyd Wells. 'Thank you so much Robert (Bob Greenhough, of organisers Green Events) and all your amazing helpers, organisers and marshals,' Julie said, in a post on the Man vs Horse Community Facebook page on Monday. 'Me and my boy Swizz had an unfortunate incident by a rider who sped past me on a very, very narrow track in the woods on the second half, barging into my horse, causing him to go vertical up the steep embankment. 'I came off and don't recall anything until I was surrounded by some amazing runners whom I would like to personally thank for your help in getting me back on my feet. 'My poor boy had disappeared down the track which is unlike him and I couldn't find him. But with the help of my partner, who rushed to me, and your amazing marshals, organisers and helpers; he was found in the woods after 90 minutes, safe with no injuries. 'I decided, after checking him over, we needed to finish the race and we did. 'I cannot thank you enough for everything; it was just unfortunate that the rider had no etiquette.' Dewi Griffiths won the race, becoming the first Welshman to outrun a horse in the iconic Powys sporting event's history. He was the third human winner in the last four years. The Swansea Harrier crossed the finishing line nearly 13 minutes faster than Gweni the horse with a time of two hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds, earning himself a trophy and £250. Gweni, who was ridden by Gabi Morley, took two hours, 35 minutes and 45 seconds to complete the multi terrain course, which this year was just over 22 miles. It took 25 years before a runner finally beat all the horses when Huw Lobb won £25,000 after crossing the line two minutes quicker in 2004. His feat was repeated three years later in 2007 by Florien Holzinger, followed by Ricky Lightfoot in 2022 and Daniel Connolly in 2023.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
I took on the Man vs Horse race and lived to tell the tale
IN the annual battle of human versus beast, man triumphed for the third year in the last four at the Man vs Horse Race. There really is something truly special about running alongside a horse on a slippery, treacherous trail in the forest tracks and bogs surrounding Llanwrtyd Wells each June. Man vs Horse isn't even the most 'out there' invention that Green Events has in its stable. There's also the Mountain Bike Chariot Racing, Welsh Open Stoneskimming and World Bog Snorkelling championships all on the calendar, but this is by far the most popular, and in my humble opinion, the best. It consistently brings in the crowds, and competitors, with about 1,000 people descending on the quirky Mid Wales town last Saturday, June 14, to test their mettle against more than 60 horses. It's my favourite event to do, and lots of people I know feel the same. Why? Who can say? It's a hell of a lot of fun. I think it's the combination of exploring stunning scenery and watery, mud-covered trails, conquering the lung-bursting and leg-screaming hills, running literally alongside horses, the camaraderie built with fellow runners and the overall sense of pride and achievement at the finish line that make it so special. As a friend and fellow endurance junkie, Dan Graham, put it afterwards: 'It's bonkers'. The eccentric 'This can't possibly be a thing' element of Man vs Horse is also what puts the event on a pedestal and plays a part in its popularity. There's plenty of wacky races up and down the UK; from cheese rolling in Gloucestershire, Race the Train in Tywyn on the West Wales coast, the Great Knaresborough Bed Race and Dorking's Wife Carrying Championships. And Man vs Horse is right up there alongside them as a bucket list challenge. This was my fourth year of entering and third doing the full distance, after I dipped my toe in 2022 with a relay place (you can either enter as a solo runner or play a part in a three-person relay team). After the epic thunderstorms on Friday night, Saturday felt like a proper, authentic Man vs Horse experience. The rain made for a treacherously thrilling course in places, with plenty of boggy plunges – one descent early on the second leg at Trallwm genuinely made me feel like I was on a slip 'n' slide. After the first sight of the horses negotiating the gruelling 'Garn', you encounter them sporadically throughout the race, even though they follow a slightly alternate route. There are obviously a few hills to contend with – my Strava told me I'd amassed 3,999 feet of elevation – and it takes a toll in many ways. One lady fell off her horse, which then went AWOL, before turning up at a nearby farm. After cruising into the final checkpoint, at around 16 miles, near Llwynowen, the last 6 or so miles was a real slog. The terrain had truly zapped my legs and I was just grateful to reach the finish line, where friends, family, an alcoholic beverage, and gratefully, the ice cream man, were waiting for me. I came home in 6 hours 10 minutes then had a few more very well-deserved alcoholic beverages. Shout out to Izzy and Gary Watts – two Man v Horse fiends (Gary, very reluctantly so, every year) who agreed to be tail walkers. They came across the line in 7 hours and 25 minutes, but made the day of the final finisher Roshan Khan, who'd tried and failed to complete the race previously; but with Izzy and Gary's help, achieved a long-held ambition.
Powys County Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Man v Horse inspiring stories as people descend on Llanwrtyd
PEOPLE entering the iconic Man vs Horse race this year have been sharing their inspiring stories and lengthy journeys taken in order to get to Powys for this weekend's event. The race is an iconic appointment in the Powys social and sporting calendar, where man (or woman) faces beast across a gruelling course set in the hills and forests surrounding the quirky town of Llanwrtyd Wells. This year's race, the 44th instalment of the Whole Earth Man vs Horse, takes place tomorrow (Saturday, June 14), and in the lead-up to it, organisers this week asked competitors to share their reasons for running, or riding, which drew some heart-warming responses. 'I am doing this because a car ran over my leg in 2021 and (I) couldn't run for 2 years,' said Jane Bradshaw. 'I am so grateful to have been able to train for such an event, which I never thought I could do.' Daniel Andrew said: 'It's my wife's birthday on June 14, Catherine Bashford. She was meant to run 2 years ago but found out she was pregnant so I stepped in for her.' Oliver Leahy revealed he will be making his way to Mid Wales from Cork, in Ireland, a journey of around 270 miles, which will likely involve a ferry and travelling time of at least 8 hours. 'I was 50 a few weeks ago and (it's) great to be able to do this iconic event. Can't wait,' he said. Both Simon Coombes and Jane Malone are running Saturday's race for charity. Simon is raising money for Ty Hafan children's hospice, while Jane is running in memory of her stepfather Bill, and raising money and awareness of the early signs of oesophageal cancer, with proceeds going to Heartburn Cancer UK. Rider Jayne Lapping is entering the famous event for the first time, aged 61, taking part on her 12-year-old horse Duke. Siobhan Lord said: 'I became seriously ill in February and am still receiving treatment. I decided Man v Horse was my goal even if we come in last. 'I will have my best friend by my side, who is coming from France to take part for the second time.' With the weather prescribing a mixture of rain and sunny spells, this year's race is looking likely to favour the horse, although humans have triumphed in two of the last three years, with Daniel Connolly and Ricky Lightfoot victorious in both 2023 and 2022 respectively. They joined esteemed company, with Huw Lobb (2004) and Florian Holzinger (2007) the only two-legged entrants to beat their four-legged friends since the first Man v Horse event took place in 1980. The event has grown massively over the years, with roughly 1,200 runners participating now, via a mix of individuals taking on the whole course themselves and 3-person relay teams. They will take on 60 horses plus their riders. The course and therefore the distance varies slightly every year, with the 2025 route reported to be around 22 miles. 2025 will see the introduction new innovations. There will be a cash prize of £250 for the first horse and rider to cross the finishing line and pass the subsequent vet check. Also, the event will be going cup-less this year, so competitors will need to carry a collapsible cup, if they are not carrying their own hydration vest, in order to take in water at the feed stations. Man vs Horse starts from the town square in Llanwrtyd at 11am on Saturday, with the horses setting off at 11.15am. Visit the Man vs Horse Community Facebook page for more information or visit organisers Green Events' website, at
