Man v Horse, live.

Runners against horses in mid Wales

Man v Horse is a race of about 22 miles in Llanwrtyd Wells where runners take on horses and riders over hills, tracks and open moorland.

Man v Horse returns on 12 June 2027 in Llanwrtyd Wells, organised by Green Events. It began in June 1980 after the landlord of the Neuadd Arms Hotel, Gordon Green, overheard two men arguing over whether a man or a horse was faster over mountainous country, and decided to find out.

The course is about 22 miles on metalled roads, forestry and farm tracks, bridleways and open moorland, with river crossings, and it is very hilly. Runners start in the town square outside the Neuadd Arms Hotel, and the finish is alongside the A483 about half a mile away. Teams can also enter as relays.

The course was changed in 1982 to make the contest closer, and for 25 years no runner beat all the horses. Huw Lobb did it in 2004 in 2 hours 5 minutes, and since then Florien Holtinger, Ricky Lightfoot in 2022, Daniel Connolly in 2023 and Dewi Griffiths in 2025 have also beaten the first horse. A jackpot grows each year it is not won.

The event lasts 6 and a half hours, and runners must reach the second relay changeover, about 14 miles in, within 4 and a half hours. The organiser stresses that it is not a leisure event, since volunteer marshals cannot wait out on the course for hours. The water stations are cup-less, so participants carry a collapsible cup.

On Livebib you can follow a participant live when they choose to share the position of the phone they carry. That is their own position, not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from the organiser.