WORCESTER Triathlon Club's Ruth Heatley gave one of her best racing displays in the Man Versus Horse Marathon.

The race is unique in the sports calendar and was voted second in the British off-road marathon races by the Runners World magazine.

It involved cross-country through fields and forests, along footpaths, bridleways and across streams with short sections of tarmac country lanes.

The hilly race is centred on the small Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells and more than 300 lined up at the start of the 22-mile contest with 27 horses and riders going 15 minutes later.

Within one-and-a-half miles, Heatley was with the lead runners and quickly settled into a good strong endurance pace, especially on the long steep ascent.

At seven miles, she was leading the second-placed woman by more than five minutes.

And, by 14 miles, this had been increased to 11 minutes and she moved up the field by catching many of the leading male runners.

With two miles to go, Heatley was feeling the effects of the steep, rough downhill sections and it was a case of really putting in a big effort.

But she did to good effect, crossing the finish line in a superb time of three hours one minute 15 seconds.

Heatley was almost 14 minutes in front of the second-placed woman who was a past winner.

Heatley was also 15th overall and first woman over 40 years.

The winning man, who was narrowly beaten by the horse, was a Kenyan athlete.

Running for the Army, he clocked a fast time of 2-19-30, some 10 minutes clear of the next man.