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
