Once again the horses prevailed at this year’s Man V Horse race in Wales, which a human has only won twice in 40 years.
Herbie and Mark Adams were the first horse and rider to cross the finish line in the race’s 40th anniversary year.
They completed the 22 miles (35km) of rugged hills and river crossings in 2 hours and 18 mins.
The annual race saw 650 runners battle against a team of 60 horses. The first human was British runner Jack Wood at 2 hours 23 mins.
Tough endurance course
The Man v Horse course takes competitors on an exploration of stunning Welsh countryside along farm tracks, bridlepaths, across open moorland and tarmac.
There are steep climbs, river crossings, woody trails and long stretches through grassy fields. It’s a race designed to test man and horse (almost) equally, with sections where horse riders are forced to dismount.
Against the odds
It took 25 years for the first runner to cross the tape ahead of all the horses, with Huw Lobb in 2004, beating the fastest horse by two minutes.
Three years later in 2007 Florien Holzinger chalked up a second win for the bipeds, but the humans have been without a champion since.
Each year there’s a £500 bounty for anyone who can beat the horses – if no one does, the pot rolls over.
Huw Lobb’s victory earned him £25,000 in 2004. This years win for horses means the runners pot is up to £3,500.
Hack challengers take on Man V Horse
Some of our Hack 1000 Miles challengers were there to take on the challenge too, and clock up a fair few miles for their trackers!
“Man V Horse is a cracking event, there were lots of training miles needed but I loved every minute,” said San Clark.
“Thanks to #hack1000miles I’ve gone from hacking to completing Man V Horse,” said Jane Bates. “I’m chuffed, this achievement confirms I have a great bond with my horse, she is a star.”
“I’m over the moon with my daughter on May completing Man V Horse,” said Mike Mills. “Sadly my new horse, Diva, wasn’t ready but God help her next year!”
