Bog snorkelling
 Competitor of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship | |
| First played | 1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | no |
| Mixed-sex | Yes, but in separate leagues |
| Type | Outdoor, aquatic |
| Venue | Water-filled trench cut through a peat bog |
Bog snorkelling is a sporting event where competitors aim to complete two consecutive lengths of a 120 yards (110 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 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 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
- 1 minute 44 seconds
Peter Beaumont of Wales at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales in 1997.[2] - 1 minute 39 seconds
John Cantillon of Dublin, Ireland the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Wales in 2000.[2] - 1 minute 35.46 seconds Philip John at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales in 2003.[3][4]
- 1 minute 34 seconds
Casey Squibb from Dorset, England at Alice’s Loft & Cottages, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan in 2009.[5] - 1 minute 28 seconds
Connor Murphy from Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland at Doohamlet later the same day in 2009.[5] - 1 minute 23.13 seconds Dineka Maguire from Northern Ireland at the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Wales in 2013.[6]
- 1 minute 22.56 seconds Kirsty Johnson (The current women's world record) at the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Wales on 24 August 2014.[7]
- 1 minute 19 seconds Paddy Lambe from Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan at the 2016 Irish Bog Snorkelling Championship, (his sister Moira Lambe also won the ladies' event) 2016.[8]
- 1 minute 18.81 seconds ' Neil Rutter (The current world record) at the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Wales on 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 England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US.[2][4]
Other bog snorkelling events take place, particularly in Wales, but also in Australia, Ireland, and Sweden. Associated events include mountain bike bog snorkelling where competitors must ride through the bog on specially prepared mountain bikes, and the Bog Snorkelling Triathlon, which consists of a 60-yard (110 metre) snorkel, a 12-mile (31 kilometre) bike ride and an 8-mile run.[10][6]
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
| Men's world champions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Champion | Time (min + secs) |
| 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) [11] |
| 2010 | Dan Morgan | 1 min 30.06 secs (former course record)[12] |
| 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)[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 | ||
| 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 48.65secs |
| 2004 | Terry Avery | |
| 2002 | Gemma Davies | 2 min 3 secs [4] |
| 2000 | Daria Kokoszko | |
| 1998 | Clare Davies | |
Junior
- 2019 Junior World Champion : Bee Johnston 2 mins 23.21 secs
- 2017 – Junior World Champion : Anna Ley-Gill : 1 min 53.81 secs
- 2016 – Junior World Champion : Cai Barry : to be confirmed
- 2015 – Junior World Champion : Megan Davies : 1 min 54.84
- 2014 – Junior World Champion : Emma Pitchforth : 1 min 26.81
- 2013 – Junior World Champion : Jack Everist : 2 min 22 secs
- 2012 – Junior World Champion : Dineka Maguire : 1 min 26.97 secs
- 2011 – Junior World Champion : Dineka Maguire
- 2010 – Junior World Champion : John Lydeard
- 2009 – Junior World Champion : Beccy Lord : 1 min 41.56 secs
- 2008 – Junior World Champion : Laura Smith : 1 min 51.21 secs
- 2007 – Junior World Champion : George Murphy : 1 min 35 secs
- 2006 – Junior World Champion : William Schofield : 1 min 48 secs
- 2005 – Junior World Champion :
- 2004 – Junior World Champion : Gareth Madelin
- 2003 – Junior World Champion : Gareth Madelin
- 2002 – Junior World Champion : Philip John : 1 min 45 secs [4]
- 1999 – Junior World Champion : Joanne Wallace : 1 min 53 secs
- 1998 - Junior World Champion : Daniel Owen
- 1997 – Junior World Champion : Al Hudson
- 1996 – Junior World Champion :
Children's
- 2016 – Children's World Champion : Tilly Smith : 2 min 14.24 secs (world record for children)
Local Men's
- 2019 - Local Champion : Alex Creak
- 2017 – Local Champion :
- 2016 – Local Champion : Adrian Matthew
- 2015 – Local Champion : Alex Creak
- 2010 – Local Champion : Tony Bain
- 2004 – Local Champion : Nick Bridgeman
Local Women's
- 2019 - Local Women's Champion : Betsy Creak
- 2018 - Local Women's Champion ; Emma Wright
- 2017 – Local Women's Champion : Claire Horniblow
- 2016 – Local Women's Champion : Betsy Creak
- 2010 – Local Women's Champion : Kelly Fuller
- 2004 – Local Women's Champion : Becky Jones
- 2001 - Local Women's Champion : Lauren Barrett
Bog snorkelling in popular culture
- 2019 - Royal Mail issue a collectable stamps edition of UK Weird and Wonderful Customs which includes Bog snorkelling at Llanwrtyd Wells, World Gurning Championship at Egremont, Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Burning the Clocks in Brighton, 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow, Samhain Celtic festival (Halloween) at Derry/Londonderry, Horn Dance at Abbots Bromley and Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill.[13]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e "Bog snorkellers set new world record". BBC News. 28 August 2000.
- ^ a b c "The 2007 event". llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk. 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "Schoolboy is champion bog snorkeller". bbc.co.uk. 26 August 2002.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Teenager in bog snorkelling record". Belfast Telegraph. 25 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Fastest time to complete Women's World Bog Snorkelling". guinnessworldrecords.com. 2020.
- ^ "Mayhem in the muck at bog snorkelling championship - Independent.ie". Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Fastest time to complete Men's World Bog Snorkelling". guinnessworldrecords.com. 2020.
- ^ "World Bog Snorkelling Championship". Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Stamps: Cheese rolling, gurning and bog snorkelling on new UK stamps". bbc.co.uk. 9 July 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bog snorkelling.