Man beats horse in 80-km race

Tom Johnson, an intrepid 42-year-old distance runner from the U.S., achieved the rare feat of winning yesterday's extraordinary "man versus horse" endurance race over 80 gruelling km.

The American was undoubtedly the man of the moment as he prevailed by just 10 seconds over the purebred Arabian Al Barraq, ridden by Jennifer Nice, in a fascinating contest staged at the predominantly hilly Al Wathab Endurance Village.

"I was leading by almost two km with about four km left for the finish. But then I saw Al Barraq galloping towards the finish and I just managed to stay ahead," said Johnson, who completed the course in five hours and 45 minutes.

"Another kilometre and I think I would have been overtaken. My best timing over 80 km is 5 hours 10 minutes but that was over a flat surface. Today's trail was very challenging but I thoroughly enjoyed it," said Johnson, who holds the U.S. endurance record over 100 km.

Jennifer and Al Barraq led after the first 32 km by almost ten minutes but the pair took a mandatory 40 minute rest keeping the welfare of the horse in mind.

Johnson on the other hand took off immediately after completing the first loop and after that he was always ahead.

"I did my best to catch him," said Jennifer who will again partner Al Barraq in next month's FEI-UAE World Cup 130 km Ride in Seih Assalem. "In fact I cut short my second break period from 40 to 20 minutes and despite that last-gasp gallop I fell short. Tom was very fast."

"Al Barraq averaged 16 kph in the first 32 km, 18 kph in the next 32 km and around 22 kmph in the final 16 km-loop," she added.

Johnson revealed that he felt the horse held an edge prior to the race.

"But I ran much better than I expected," he said. "It was a great challenge. Simply fantastic." Johnson's wife Marci Smith will compete in today's prestigious 160 km President's Cup Endurance ride on a 13-year-old horse Saamson CC.