Runner Huw Lobb, 27, made history this weekend when he became the first man to win Britain’s annual man vs. horse marathon.
The previous 24 runnings around the 35-kilometer (21.7 miles) course raced over countryside and moorland round the small mid-Wales town of Llanwrtyd Wells had all been won by a horse.
But Lobb, a regular marathon runner from south London, broke through to triumph in 2:05:19 and pick up the 25,000 sterling ($45,500) winner’s check.
The first horse home in 2:07:36 was Kay Bee Jay, ridden by Zoe White. Two years ago a runner came within a few seconds of victory ,but bookmaker William Hill still offered 16-1 against a man winning Saturday’s race.
A record 566 runners from Britain and other parts of Europe took part, challenging 47 horses and their riders.
The result completed a sad double for the equine species. Earlier this month, a greyhound beat a racehorse in a special match race over 400 meters at Kempton Park, near London.
The greyhound, called Simply Fabulous, scorched home seven horse lengths clear in 23 seconds.
