A YOUNG rider from Throwleigh has won one of the most prestigious and exhilarating events in Wales and now has her hopes set on representing her country.
As she galloped over the finishing line of the 22-mile Wales Man Versus Horse Race 2002, Robyn Petrie-Ritchie,18, was surrounded by the paparazzi as if she had just won the Grand National.
Competing at the top level on Arab horses, known for their speed and long distance ability, has been a dream of Robyn's since she was little — but she did not think success would come quite so early.
Although she is not new to endurance riding this was her first race and a national event so she is rather pleased with herself.
This type of event, where runners try and beat a horse and rider in a race which is as equally pitched as possible, is now a worldwide craze and in the Brecon Beacons race, a Olympic competitor from Kenya was amongst the 200 runners. A total of 37 riders from across the country took part.
Robyn said the race resulted from a conversation in a local pub 23 years ago and it was now a really big event.
'I had no idea it was quite as big but I did come the end,' she said. 'It was sponsored by the bookies William Hill and the whole community was out there cheering.
'There is something really exciting about it because it is so fast — around 11mph — the first runner was only 30 minutes behind,' she said. 'I was amazed I won and then there were all these cameras in my face.'
The horse Robyn was riding was Arab Marathon winner Drumghigha Shemal — owned by Dr Marthe Kiley-Worthington who has an Arab stud at Whiddon Down and who came second in the competition.
The £350 prize money will be split between the rider and the horse owner. If a runner beats a horse, he wins £21,000.
Robyn, who was riding before she could walk, said she was honoured to ride the horse who was 'fantastic'.
A member of horse society Endurance GB, the young rider is now aiming for a place in the national team — but says she needs to get a few more races under her belt first.