Horse loses to man in unusual Welsh marathon
Created: 06/21/2022, 16:30
By: Sina Lück
The Man versus Horse marathon in Wales pits people against horses - with amazing results, as one firefighter proves.
Wales (Great Britain) – Man vs. Horse.
Where is that?
What sounds like a crazy crazy idea has long been a reality in Great Britain.
The "Man versus Horse" marathon has been held in Wales since 1980, in which runners compete against horse-rider pairs.
At this year's edition, the four-legged athletes didn't stand a chance against a lightning-fast fireman.
Man versus Horse Marathon in Wales (icon image) © Zuma Press/Imago
Horse loses to man in unusual Welsh marathon
In a race against animals, humans usually lose out.
Horses, for example, can reach top speeds of 70 kilometers and more per hour.
A few years ago, Dwain Chambers proved that it can also be the other way around.
In a 100 meter race, the British sprinter crossed the finish line just ahead of a racehorse - but only because the distance was very short and the four-legged opponent had a bad start.
In Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, the route is not exactly short: a proud 22 miles, i.e. around 35 kilometers, it goes through hilly and swampy terrain in all weathers.
In the unusual race, the two- and four-legged athletes not only have to prove their speed, but also endurance and skill.
Perhaps it was this combination that suited 37-year-old firefighter and cross-country runner Ricky Lightfoot – the name isn't a joke – particularly well and gave him the decisive lead in the end.
Like the blind rider Laura Kelmere, who won her first distance race.
Horse loses to man – firefighter finishes two minutes faster
With a time of 2:22:23, Lightfoot finished two minutes ahead of the fastest horse.
In doing so, the runner wrote real marathon history: Because the last victory against a horse was 15 years ago.
"I had heard of both previous winners, Huw Lobb and Florien Holtinger, and am happy to now count myself among just three people to have triumphed over the horses," Lightfoot told CNN.