Bog snorkelling
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Bog snorkelling is a sporting event that consists of competitors completing two consecutive lengths of a water filled trench cut through a peat bog, in the shortest time possible. Competitors must wear snorkels and flippers, and complete the course without using conventional swimming strokes, relying on flipper power alone. Wet suits are not compulsory, but are usually worn.[citation needed]
The length of the trench is 60 yds (traversed twice for a course of 120 yds).[1]
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History of bog snorkelling[edit]
The activity of bog snorkelling was started in 1976 near Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom. It began as a result of an over-the-bar conversation in The Neuadd Arms between Gordon Green and a few regulars.[citation needed]
World Bog Snorkelling Championship[edit]
The World Bog Snorkelling Championship, first held in 1985, takes place annually every August Bank Holiday at the dense Waen Rhydd peat bog, near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales. Andrew Holmes is the current world record holder with a time of 84 seconds. As of 2012, Richard Addis is the current men's champion with a time of 1 min 26.97 s, while Dineka Maguire is the current women's and junior champion, setting a new world record time for both categories of 1 min 26.97.
The event now attracts more than 200 entrants each year and in recent years has been sponsored by Fun Swim Shop.[citation needed] The 2007 and 2008 events were not sponsored; the previous sponsor was London-based IT consultancy company SPMK in 2006.[2] The 2012 event was sponsored by Paddy Power.
Other bog snorkelling events take place, particularly in Wales (but also in Australia, the island of Ireland and Sweden). Associated events include the associated mountain bike bog snorkelling (where competitors must ride through the bog on specially prepared mountain bikes), and the Bog Snorkelling Triathlon.[3]
Proceeds from the championship go to a local charity each year. Charities include the Cystic Fibrosis Trust (2005) and the Motor Neurone Association (2006). The 2006 charity was chosen in memory of the Green Events Treasurer, Ron Skilton, who died in December 2005.[4]
Results[edit]
Men
- 2012 – World Champion: Richard Addis : 1min26.50
- 2011 – World Champion: Andrew Holmes : ~ 1m 24s (New world record)[5]
- 2010 – World Champion: Dan Morgan : 1m30.06s (New world record)[6]
- 2009 – World Champion: Conor Murphy : 1m42.30s
- 2008 – World Champion: Conor Murphy : 1m38.09s
- 2007 – World Champion: Robert Liscoe : 1m43s
- 2006 – World Champion: Haydn Pitchforth : 1m41.42s
- 2005 – World Champion: Iain Hawkes : 1m46.03s
- 2004 – World Champion: Phillip John : 1m38s
- 2003 – World Champion: Phillip John : 1m35.46s
- 2002 – World Champion: Phillip John : 1m45s
- 2001 – cancelled due to foot and mouth disease
- 2000 – World Champion: John Cantillon : 1m39s
- 1999 – World Champion: Peter Owen : 1m52s
- 1998 – World Champion: Craig Napper : 1m53s
- 1997 – World Champion: Peter Beaumont : 1m44s
- 1996 – World Champion: Jonathan Maiden : 2m12s
- 1995 – Cancelled due to drought
- 1994 – Stephen Madelin
Women
- 2012 – Female World Champion: Dineka Maguire 1 min 26.97s (world record)
- 2011 – Female World Champion: Dineka Maguire
- 2010 – Female World Champion: Dineka Maguire : 1min31 .90
- 2009 – Female World Champion: Laura Smith : 1m51.00s
- 2008 – Female World Champion: Kirsty Brown : 1m53.12s
- 2007 – Female World Champion: Joanne Pitchforth : 1m35.18s
- 2006 – Female World Champion: Alexis Howe : 1m45s
- 2005 – Female World Champion: Heidi French : 1m48.65s
- 2004 – Female World Champion: Terry Avery
- 2000 – Female World Champion: Joanne Wallace
Junior
- 2012 – Junior World Champion: Dineka Maguire 1min 26.97 (world record)
- 2011 – Junior World Champion: Dineka Maguire
- 2010 – Junior World Champion: John Lydeard
- 2009 – Junior World Champion: Beccy Lord : 1m41.56s
- 2008 – Junior World Champion: Laura Smith : 1m51.21s
- 2007 – Junior World Champion: George Murphy : 1m35s
- 2006 – Junior World Champion: William Schofield : 1m48s
- 2005 – Junior World Champion:
- 2004 – Junior World Champion: Gareth Madelin
- 2003 – Junior World Champion: Gareth Madelin
- 1999 – Junior World Champion: Joanne Wallace : 1m53s
- 1997 – Junior World Champion: Al Hudson
- 1996 - Junior Porn Champion
Local Men's
- 2010 – Local Champion: Tony Bain
- 2004 – Local Champion: Nick Bridgeman
Local Women's
- 2010 – Local Women's Champion : Kelly Fuller
- 2004 – Local Women's Champion: Becky Jones
References[edit]
- ^ Irish Bog Snorkelling (2009). World Record Smashed Twice!! 1st ever Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships a Huge Success. Irish Bog Snorkelling. Retrieved on 2012-07-29 from http://www.irishbogsnorkelling.com/index-09.htm.
- ^ "World Bog Snorkelling Championships 2006". Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- ^ "World Bog Snorkelling Championship". Retrieved 2010-01.
- ^ "Llanwrtyd Wells Bog Snorkelling site". Archived from the original on 14 December 2007.
- ^ "Andrew Holmes sets new world bog snorkelling record". BBC News. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Llanwrtyd Wells bog snorkel has new world record time". BBC News. 29 August 2010.
