
Dewi Griffiths wins Man v Horse in Llanwrtyd Wells
A runner has won the gruelling Man v Horse challenge.
Dewi Griffiths becomes the fifth person to outrun a horse in the iconic Powys sporting event's history, which is held annually in Llanwrtyd Wells.
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 24-mile multi terrain course.
Around 650 runners and 60 horses descended on the tiny Powys town on Saturday (June 14) for the annual event which has been held since 1980.
One of the hundreds of runners taking part in Saturday's race was Director-General of the BBC Tim Davie who described the race as a "special one" despite the "gnarly" weather conditions.
Race director Christian Prynne, who said it was "probably the wettest conditions" the event has experienced for the past few years, asked the BBC boss why he continues to return to Mid Wales for the quirky challenge.
"It's a special race, that's why," he said. "I don't know, there's something about it.
"It's gnarly today, gnarly. I enjoyed it though.
"Lovely running conditions from the waist up.
"On the feet it's gnarly. It's really gnarly.
"I went down twice for little, hit the grass twice, but it's a bit tasty out there."
Other well-known faces who have taken part in Man v Horse over recent years include BBC broadcaster Sophie Raworth and Britain's most decorated Olympian Sir Jason Kenny.
Dewi Griffiths now joins an elite group of Man v Horse winners. It took 25 years before a runner finally beat all the horses when in 2004 Huw Lobb won £25,000 after crossing the line two minutes quicker.
His feat was repeated three years later in 2007 by Florien Holtinger, followed by Ricky Lightfoot in 2022 and Daniel Connolly in 2023.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
John McEnroe's home that was nearly too pricey for him blew Sue Barker away
John McEnroe and Sue Barker are great friends, with the three-time Wimbledon champion showing the TV presenter around his plush New York apartment and art gallery Sue Barker was left wowed by John McEnroe's luxurious New York residence, a property he struggled to afford during his tennis days. The duo, who are close pals after years working in tandem on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage before Barker retired from tournament presenting duties in 2022, shared some memorable moments. In 2019, Barker visited McEnroe in his homeland for a BBC documentary celebrating his 60th birthday. She toured his prestigious tennis academy, art gallery and the plush Manhattan apartment where he has lived since the mid-80s. Despite McEnroe's estimated net worth of £90 million, stretching his finances for the apartment initially proved a challenge. Recounting the visit in her book, Wimbledon: The players, the place, the magic, Barker said the property boasted "the most stunning views over the city". She said: "Mac stretched himself to buy the property during his early playing days and it is now a prime asset, proving what a savvy businessman he was even back then." Today, the apartment, with its four bedrooms, an office, a gallery and a spacious kitchen, is valued at about £7.5million. Barker was also awestruck by McEnroe's downtown Manhattan gallery. She wrote: "Art is another of his great passions. We had a hilarious moment when I held the bottom of the ladder as John climbed up to remove a couple of paintings from the wall. "The ladder was a bit wobbly, and I felt under extreme pressure. I carefully put the first painting he handed down on the table. The second one, I held in my hands, admiring it as John descended. How much do you think that one is worth, Sue?' "Not wanting to look foolish as I really had no idea, I guessed $100,000. 'Just over a million,' he said - and I almost dropped it! "Holding something so valuable was a first for me. I couldn't believe Mac would trust me with handling it at all. I decided not to go near anything else in his gallery, much to his amusement." McEnroe, who grew up in Queens near US Open venue Flushing Meadows, feels at home in Manhattan. In the documentary, he said: "I've lived in the same apartment for 35 years. I love being in Manhattan, I grew up in Queens, close to the US Open. But most kids, if not all kids, dream of making it in Manhattan." McEnroe, one of the BBC's top-paid presenters on a pro rata basis, will return to his punditry and commentary roles at Wimbledon this year. However, Nick Kyrgios will reportedly not be joining him after being dropped from the line-up.


Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
HUGE football star and manager 'to star on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing'
Football icon Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is reportedly set to appear on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing. The former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach, 53, is believed to have signed up to the BBC flagship show, according to The Sun. A source told the publication: 'Jimmy has a huge fanbase from his years playing in the Premier League and is a very likeable character. 'Show producers are always keen to book a retired footballer as it gets footie fans tuning into the series and becoming unlikely fans of the show. 'Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game.' The father-of-four was a professional player with Leeds and Middlebrough for two decades before he retied in 2008. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for comment. The rumour comes weeks after Strictly bosses announced the professional lineup for this year's show and revealed there will be two brand new dancers joining. Dianne Buswell, who lifted the glitter ball in December with Chris McCausland, will be joining Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal in returning to the dance floor this September. They will be joined by Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola who will all take to the floor once more alongside two new stars, who will be announced closer to the time. Amy Dowden, who pulled out in the opening weeks of last year's show due to a foot injury, will also be back on Strictly for 2025, as will Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington, who didn't have a celebrity partner last year. Despite rumours that he might be making a return after missing out on last year's series, Giovanni Pernice will not be heading back to the ballroom this time around. Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said : 'The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new Professional Dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.' As well as the pros taking part in the competition itself, all of them will be taking to the floor each week in group routines. The rumour comes weeks after Strictly bosses announced the professional lineup for this year's show and revealed there will be two brand new dancers joining MailOnline previously revealed that Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen will return to the BBC show this year. It was rumoured that the programme's longest-serving dancer was axed by bosses, sparking an 'ageism' row among the cast but it has been confirmed that the star, 42, will be back as normal when the series returns in September. Karen, who joined the lineup in 2012, is yet to win the glitter ball trophy but has reached several finals including with celebrity partners Made In Chelsea 's Jamie Laing and former TOWIE star Mark Wright. Last year, Karen was partnered with former footballer Paul Merson, 57, but the pair were eliminated in week five and the previous season the dancer performed with DJ Eddie Kadi. The Venezuelan, who was previously married to ex-pro Kevin Clifton, returns to the show alongside the likes of Strictly favourites Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, and Jowita Przystal, who reached the semifinal stages last year with Pete Wicks. In November, it was reported that Karen was at 'risk' of losing her place on the show because of her age when dancers like Dianne Buswell, 35, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, are younger participants. Meanwhile, Carlos Gu (pictured, left) and Kai Widdrington (right) will be returning after not appearing in the 2024 edition Johannes Radebe (pictured, left) is back for the 2025 edition after receiving a huge spike in popularity, leading to a busy diary and will join Aljaž Škorjanec (right) Katya Jones (pictured, left) will be joining Jowita Pryzstal (right) on the much-awaited return of Strictly this September A TV source told MailOnline: 'Karen is a well loved and respected member of the Strictly cast and there's no way she would be axed, especially not because of her age. 'She has dedicated years to the programme and can't wait to get back in the training room with a new partner in the next coming months.' Following speculation surrounding whether she would axed from the long running series due to being in her 40s, Karen spoke about not being 'threatened' by younger competitors. Indeed, she said performing alongside new joiners makes her feel empowered and she is 'inspired' by the younger generation. In February, she said: 'Of course, Strictly brings in younger female dancers. I'm the longest serving on the show, but new dancers don't threaten me - I watch them and I learn from them. 'They inspire me and build my confidence. I've become the person for them that I didn't have when I joined the show. I'm always there to help because there is a big spotlight on you on Strictly.' As well as competing on the show with celebrity contestants Jeremy Vine, Simon Rimmer, Greg Wise and Chris Ramsey, Karen also danced with comedian Jayde Adams, which was her first female partnership. On competing with a female for the first time in 2022, Karen said: 'I've danced with a lot of male dancers, but it's finding what works for them. This is more natural. Luba Mushtuk (pictured, left) was partnered with Nick Knowles in 2024 while Nancy Xu (right) danced with singer Shayne Ward last year Lauren Oakley (pictured, left) stepped in for Amy as JB Gill's partner and Michelle Tsiakkas (right) was with Jamie Borthwick last time 'It is female empowerment for me to be dancing with Jayde. I feel the most comfortable because there is that friendship. 'We are girls and we talk about everything. We cry together, we laugh together. We share so many things. 'When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.' It was alleged last year that a Strictly 'cull' of the professional dancers would see a change in the lineup, with Gorka rumoured not to be coming back for the upcoming season. Throughout his time on the show Gorka has been partnered with the likes of EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, and radio host Nikita Kanda. In 2024, he competed with Morning Live doctor Punam Krishan and the pair impressed the judging panel with their Couples' Choice performance where they danced a Bollywood routine. His partner Gemma Atkinson starred on Strictly in 2017, which is how the couple first met, and the fitness model reached the final, narrowly missing out to Joe McFadden and his partner Katya for the glitter ball trophy. It was alleged last year that a Strictly 'cull' of the professional dancers would see a change in the lineup, with Gorka Marquez rumoured not to be coming back for the upcoming season The World Latin Champion, who started dancing at the age of 12, landed a new role earlier this year on the judging panel for the Spanish version of Strictly. He's also been up and down the country performing with fellow pro dancer Karen on their Speakeasy tour. Gemma has admitted the time she finds most difficult as a mother is when Gorka is rehearsing for Strictly, saying his intense work schedule means he often isn't at their family home in Manchester. She said: 'He's never here. It's Strictly from July to December. If they get a partner, they're based where their partner is in the week. Obviously London at the weekend.' In recent years, the Strictly pro lineup has seen Italian dancers Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni be axed following complaints about their conduct in the training room. Giovanni faced bullying accusations from former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington while Graziano 'kicked' ex-Love Island star Zara McDermott during rehearsals. There were also reports of a 'mass cull' with producers keen to revamp the Strictly pro cast.


Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Dubai-based gangster Ross McGill was a ‘promising athlete' coached by Tory MSP
McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRUGS mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland, we can reveal. The hood, 31, who kicked off the country's bloody gangland turf war, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, 61, now a Tory MSP. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland 3 The hood, 31, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, now a Tory MSP Credit: Alamy 3 BRAZEN mobsters have torched the cars of rival gang members But we can reveal McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 — and is now a feared hood known as 'Miami' who sparked a bloody underworld turf war. McGill, 31, of East Kilbride, changed tack to get involved in drugs deals and mayhem more than a decade after he ran for Renfrewshire athletics club Kilbarchan. He set a highly impressive personal best time for 100m of just over 11 seconds while being trained by the former Team GB ace Mr Whittle. The MSP for South Scotland since 2016 said of McGill: 'I remember him as a decent athlete in his mid-teens with potential. 'But he did not stay in the training group for long.' We can reveal an image of a fresh-faced McGill wearing a Scotland vest at a meet in Antrim, Northern Ireland. A source said: 'He came second in the 100m at the Celtic games on August 13, 2011. 'He only represented Kilbarchan AC for one year then disappeared. It was very odd because at the time he seemed like he was going to be a really successful athlete. 'But people who knew him remember he did seem a lot more interested in Rangers than track and field.' McGill, exposed by us as the gang war Mr Big, went on to lead the Union Bears Rangers ultras and was pictured with ex-Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard. The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson He is said to be behind a mob called Tamo Junto who have been waging war against caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and the notorious Daniel crime family. Insiders say dealers paid McGill in fake cash for a £500,000 cocaine deal after seeing him as 'a nobody'. Tamo Junto has claimed responsibility for firebombings and machete attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cops have made 48 arrests so far. Mr Whittle won 4x400m relay gold at two European Championships and competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.