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Bog snorkelling

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Bog snorkelling
Competitor of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship
First played1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom
Characteristics
Team membersno
Mixed-sexYes, but in separate leagues
TypeOutdoor, aquatic
VenueWater-filled trench cut through a peat bog

Bog snorkelling is a sporting event where competitors aim to complete two consecutive lengths of a 60 yards (55 m) water-filled trench cut through a peat bog in the shortest time possible, wearing traditional snorkel, diving mask and flippers. They complete the course without swimming, relying on flipper power alone.

The current world record was set by Neil Rutter in 2018, with a time of 1 min 18.81 seconds. The women's world record stands at 1 minute 22.56 seconds by Kirsty Johnson in 2014. Both were set at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales.

Rules

  • A water-filled trench 60 yards (55 m) in length must be cut through a peat bog by the organisers.[1]
  • Competitors must wear snorkels, mask and flippers.[1]
  • A wetsuit is not compulsory, but is often worn.[1]
  • Bog snorkelling competitors must traverse two consecutive lengths totalling 120 yards (110 m) in the shortest time possible.[1]
  • The course must be completed without using conventional swimming strokes, relying on flipper power alone.[1]

World Record history

Time Record holder Location and date
1 min 44 sec Wales Peter Beaumont of Wales Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales in 1997.[2]
1 min 39 sec Republic of Ireland John Cantillon of Dublin Llanwrtyd Wells 2000.[2]
1 min 35.46 sec Wales Philip John Llanwrtyd Wells 2003.[3][4]
1 min 34 sec England Casey Squibb from Dorset, England Alice's Loft & Cottages, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan in 2009.[5]
1 min 28 sec Northern Ireland Connor Murphy from Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland Doohamlet, later the same day in 2009.[5]
1 min 23.13 sec Northern Ireland Dineka Maguire from Northern Ireland Llanwrtyd Wells 2013.[6]
1 min 22.56 sec England Kirsty Johnson (Current women's world record) Llanwrtyd Wells 24 August 2014.[7]
1 min 19 sec Republic of Ireland Paddy Lambe from Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan Irish Bog Snorkelling Championship 2016
(His sister Moira Lambe also won the ladies' event.)[8]
1 min 18.81 sec 'England Neil Rutter (Current world record) Llanwrtyd Wells 26 August 2018.[9]

World Bog Snorkelling Championship

The World Bog Snorkelling Championship, first held in 1985, takes place every August Bank Holiday in the dense Waen Rhydd peat bog, near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales.[1] Competitors travel from as far afield as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Wales and the US.[2][4][10]

Llanwrtyd Wells location map

Other bog snorkelling events take place, particularly in Wales, but also in Australia, Ireland, and Sweden. These include the Bog Snorkelling Triathlon, which consists of a 120 yard (110 metre) snorkel, a 19 mile (31 kilometre) bike ride and a 712 mile (12 km) run.[11][6]

World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championship[when?]

Proceeds from the World Championship go to a local charity each year. Past recipients 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.[3]

Results

Year Champion Time (min + secs)
Men's world champions
2022 Neil Rutter 1 min 20.22 secs [10]
2021 Cancelled due to COVID
2020 Cancelled due to COVID
2019 Neil Rutter 1 min 21.78 secs
2018 Neil Rutter 1 min 18.81 secs (WR)[9]
2017 Neil Rutter 1 min 26.15 secs
2016 Daniel Norman 1 min 26.38 secs
2015 Haydn Pitchforth 1 min 26.00 secs
2014 Craig Pedley 1min 33.25 secs
2013 David Williams 1 min 32.68 secs
2012 Richard Addis 1 min 26 secs
2011 Andrew Holmes 1 min 29 secs (former course record) [12]
2010 Dan Morgan 1 min 30.06 secs (former course record)[13]
2009 Conor Murphy 1 min 42.30 secs
2008 Conor Murphy 1 min 38.09 secs
2007 Robert Liscoe 1 min 43 secs
2006 Haydn Pitchforth 1 min 41.42 secs
2005 Iain Hawkes 1 min 46.03 secs
2004 Phillip John 1 min 38 secs
2003 Phillip John 1 min 35.46 secs (FWR)
[clarification needed][3]
2002 Phillip John 1 min 45 secs [4]
2001 Cancelled due to Foot and Mouth Disease
2000 John Cantillon 1 min 39 secs (FWR)[2][4]
1999 Peter Owen 1 min 52 secs
1998 Craig Napper 1 min 53 secs
1997 Peter Beaumont 1 min 44 secs (FWR)[2]
1996 Jonathan Maiden 2 min 12 secs
1995 Cancelled due to drought
1994 Stephen Madelin
1993 Sian Evans
1992 Janet Tyler
1991 Sian Evans
1990 Sian Evans
1989 Stephen Madelin
Women's world champions
2022 Kezia Jukes 1 min 35.00 secs
2021 Cancelled due to COVID
2020 Cancelled due to COVID
2019 Betsy Creak 1 min 42.22 secs
2018 Elinor MacCormac 1 min 48.46 secs
2017 Jess Fidler 1 min 41.87 secs
2016 Anna Lohman (Swe) 1 min 33.10 secs
2015 Eva Jonasson (Swe) 1 min 31.03 secs
2014 Kirsty Johnson 1 min 22.56 secs (FWR)[7]
2013 Dineka Maguire 1 min 23.13 secs (FWR)[6]
2012 Dineka Maguire 1 min 26.97 secs (former women's and junior record)
2011 Dineka Maguire
2010 Dineka Maguire 1 min 31.90 secs
2009 Laura Smith 1 min 51.00 secs
2008 Kirsty Brown 1 min 53.12 secs
2007 Joanne Pitchforth 1 min 35.18 secs
2006 Alexis Howe 1 min 45 secs
2005 Heidi French 1 min 48.65 secs
2004 Terry Avery
2002 Gemma Davies 2 min 3 secs [4]
2000 Daria Kokoszko
1998 Clare Davies
1996 Rosalyne Payne

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Galván, Javier A. (19 June 2014). They Do What? A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from around the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-61069-342-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bog snorkellers set new world record". BBC News. 28 August 2000.
  3. ^ a b c "The 2007 event". llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk. 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Schoolboy is champion bog snorkeller". BBC. 26 August 2002.
  5. ^ a b "Irish Bog Snorkelling (2009) World Record Smashed Twice!! 1st ever Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships a Huge Success". Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Teenager in bog snorkelling record". Belfast Telegraph. 25 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Fastest time to complete Women's World Bog Snorkelling". guinnessworldrecords.com. 2020.
  8. ^ "Mayhem in the muck at bog snorkelling championship - Independent.ie". Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Fastest time to complete Men's World Bog Snorkelling". guinnessworldrecords.com. 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Rude Health World Bog Snorkelling Championship 2022". green-events.co.uk. 27 August 2022.
  11. ^ "World Bog Snorkelling Championship". Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  12. ^ "Andrew Holmes sets new world bog snorkelling record". BBC News. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Llanwrtyd Wells bog snorkel has new world record time". BBC News. 29 August 2010.
  14. ^ "Stamps: Cheese rolling, gurning and bog snorkelling on new UK stamps". BBC. 9 July 2019.