February 8, 2002	Friday	Ziqa’ad 24, 1422

DUBAI, Feb 7: Tom Johnson, an intrepid 42-year-old distance runner from the United States, achieved the rare feat of winning a “man versus horse” endurance race over 80 gruelling kilometres in the United Arab Emirates, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Johnson won by just 10 seconds over the purebred Arabian Al Barraq, ridden by Jennifer Nice, on Wednesday staged at the predominantly hilly Al Wathab Endurance Village, Gulf News said.

Johnson said he was leading by almost two kilometres with about four to go when he saw Al Barraq launch his final challenge.

But Johnson just managed to stay ahead. He completed the course in five hours and 45 minutes.

“Another kilometre and I think I would have been overtaken”, he added.

“My best time over 80 kilometres is five hours 10 minutes, but that was over a flat surface. Today’s trail was very challenging but I thoroughly enjoyed it”, he said.

Johnson holds the US endurance record over 100 kilometres.

Jennifer and Al Barraq were almost 10 minutes ahead after 32 kms but then had to take a mandatory 40 minutes rest for the welfare of the horse. Johnson took the lead and was never headed.—dpa