Man versus Horse Marathon

The Man versus Horse Marathon is an annual race over 22 miles (35 km), where runners compete against riders on horseback through a mix of road, trail and mountainous terrain.

There are other Man versus Horse races — in Scotland based at Dores, near Loch Ness,[3] in Central North Island, New Zealand[4][5] and in Prescott, Arizona.

[6][7] The event started in 1980,[8] when local landlord Gordon Green overheard a discussion between two men in his pub, the Neuadd Arms.

The winning rider was Beti Gordon riding Next in Line at Grangeway, while the top runner was Charlie Pearson from London.

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.

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.