30 July 2025
For the first two miles, as Laura Williams navigated her way through the bogs, rivers and hills of the Powys countryside, she briefly forgot about the herd of competitors in hot pursuit. Then came the sound of approaching hooves.
“Someone shouted, ‘Horses coming through.’ It was quite surreal,” Williams told OT.
The independent prescribing optometrist and her BBR Optometry colleague, Nick Black, were among 650 runners and 60 horses that who took part in the annual Man v Horse race on 14 June.
The event sees runners converge on Llanwrtyd Wells in mid-Wales to race across 23 miles of varied terrain against horses and their riders.
For the fifth time in the event’s 45-year history, the event was won by a human rather a steed.
Cross country runner, Dewi Griffiths, crossed the finish line in two hours and 23 minutes – 13 minutes ahead of horse, Gweni, and her rider, Gabi Morley.
According to the event website, the Man v Horse race began in 1980 after the landlord of the Neuadd Arms Hotel overheard a conversation between two pub goers about the relative merits of runners and horses racing across mountainous terrain.
The competition organiser, Green Events, is also responsible for the Welsh Open Stone Skimming Championships and the World Bog Snorkelling Championships.
Williams was a last-minute addition to the Wye Valley Runners relay team after another competitor dropped out due to injury.
She appreciated the diversity of the terrain – from crossing rivers that went above her knee to running in single file through dense bush.
“Because it was raining, there was mist which was quite beautiful. You kept on wondering what was coming next,” she recalled.
Horse v harrier: the race in photos
As part of a running club, Williams also appreciated the sense of camaraderie between teammates.
“Everyone was cheering each other on. It didn’t matter how fast or how slow you were, the main thing was taking part,” she said.
Black, who also competed in the event as part of a relay team, told OT that in the lead up to the race a month of rain fell in less than 48 hours.
“The streams had turned into rivers and the ground was very soft underfoot,” he said.
During the race, the runners receive a 15-minute head start on the horses. The horses will also receive at least one vet check-up during the course of the race.
Only runners who compete the full 23-mile course are eligible to compete for the title against their equestrian rivals.
There is such a feel-good atmosphere. Everyone is sharing stories and telling tales
Black told OT that people from all walks of life compete in the annual event, with places often selling out within hours of release.
“There is such a feel-good atmosphere. Everyone is sharing stories and telling tales,” he said.
During the course of the race, Black became familiar with a tan horse and rider who found different aspects of the course challenging to the BBR Optometry chief executive officer and dispensing optician.
“She would pass me and then struggle, and I would pass her. After a while, the horse seemed to recognise me and run alongside me, which was nice,” Black said.
When Black has mentioned the race to patients, he told OT that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
He recalled the feedback of a patient in her 70s who gave her view of the event to a newly qualified optometrist who was observing the consultation.
“She commented ‘You’ve got to do these mad things. Life is for living’,” Black said.
Black’s relay team completed the course in four hours and 18 minutes, while Williams’ team crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 54 minutes.
The event comes after Williams completed the London Marathon earlier in the year in a time of five hours, while raising funds for Guide Dogs UK.
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