bog snorkelling

{{Infobox sport

| name = Bog snorkelling

| image = RUD 2821 resize.JPG

| alt =

| imagesize = 300px

| caption = Competitor of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship

| union =

| nickname =

| first = 1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom

| firstlabel =

| region =

| registered =

| clubs =

| contact =

| team = No

| mgender = Yes, but in separate leagues

| type = Outdoor, aquatic

| equipment =

| venue = Water-filled trench cut through a peat bog

| olympic =

| paralympic =

| obsolete =

}}

Bog snorkelling is a sporting event where competitors aim to complete two consecutive lengths of a {{convert|60|yds|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 women's world record stands at 1 minute 22.56 seconds by Kirsty Johnson in 2014. The men's world record was set by Neil Rutter in 2018, with a time of 1 min 18.81 seconds. Both were set at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales.

Rules

A water-filled trench {{convert|60|yds|m}} in length must be cut through a peat bog by the organisers.{{Cite book|last=Galván|first=Javier A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e2RyBAAAQBAJ&q=bog%20snorkeling&pg=PA36|title=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|date=2014-06-19|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-342-4|pages=36|language=en}}
Competitors must wear snorkels, masks and flippers.
A wetsuit is not compulsory, but is often worn.
Bog snorkelling competitors must traverse two consecutive lengths totalling {{convert|120|yds|m}} in the shortest time possible.
The course must be completed without using conventional swimming strokes, relying on flipper power alone.

World record history

class="wikitable" !Time!!Record holder!!Location and date
1 min 44 sec	{{Flagicon\|Wales}} Peter Beaumont of Wales	Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales in 1997.
1 min 39 sec	{{Flagicon\|Ireland}} John Cantillon of Dublin	Llanwrtyd Wells 2000.
1 min 35.46 sec	{{Flagicon\|Wales}} Philip John	Llanwrtyd Wells 2003.{{Cite web\|url= http://llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk/bog.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071214181427/http://llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk/bog.html \|url-status= dead \|archive-date= 2007-12-14 \|title=The 2007 event \|publisher=llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk\|date=2006}}{{Cite web\|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2217284.stm \|title=Schoolboy is champion bog snorkeller \|publisher=BBC\|date=26 August 2002}}
1 min 34 sec	{{Flagicon\|England}} Casey Squibb from Dorset, England	Alice's Loft & Cottages, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, County Monaghan in 2009.{{cite web \|url=http://www.irishbogsnorkelling.com/index-09.htm \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100722055048/http://www.irishbogsnorkelling.com/index-09.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=2010-07-22 \|title=Irish Bog Snorkelling (2009) World Record Smashed Twice!! 1st ever Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships a Huge Success \|access-date=2012-07-29}}
1 min 28 sec	{{Flagicon\|Northern Ireland}} Connor Murphy from Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland	Doohamlet, later the same day in 2009.
1 min 23.13 sec	{{Flagicon\|Northern Ireland}} Dineka Maguire from Northern Ireland	Llanwrtyd Wells 2013.
1 min 22.56 sec	{{Flagicon\|England}} Kirsty Johnson (Current women's world record)	Llanwrtyd Wells 24 August 2014.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-time-to-complete-women’s-world-bog-snorkelling \|title=Fastest time to complete Women's World Bog Snorkelling \|publisher=guinnessworldrecords.com\|date=2020}}
1 min 19 sec	{{Flagicon\|Ireland}} Paddy Lambe from Castleblayney, County Monaghan	Irish Bog Snorkelling Championship 2016 (His sister Moira Lambe also won the ladies' event.){{Cite web\|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mayhem-in-the-muck-at-bog-snorkelling-championship-35040728.html\|title=Mayhem in the muck at bog snorkelling championship - Independent.ie\|date=12 September 2016 \|access-date=2016-09-12}}
1 min 18.81 sec	{{Flagicon\|England}} Neil Rutter (Current world record)	Llanwrtyd Wells 26 August 2018.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/96085-fastest-time-to-complete-men’s-world-bog-snorkelling \|title=Fastest time to complete Men's World Bog Snorkelling \|publisher=guinnessworldrecords.com\|date=2020}}

World Bog Snorkelling Championship

The World Bog Snorkelling Championship, first held in 1988, takes place every August Bank Holiday in the dense Waen Rhydd peat bog, near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales. 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.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/898284.stm| title=Bog snorkellers set new world record |journal=BBC News |date=28 August 2000}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.green-events.co.uk/index.php?wbs_main#:~:text=The%2035th%20annual%20World%20Bog%20Snorkelling%20Championships%20-,world%20took%20part%20on%20a%20blisteringly%20hot%20day.|title=Rude Health World Bog Snorkelling Championship 2022|work=green-events.co.uk|date=27 August 2022}}

File:Powys UK location map.svg

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 {{convert|120|yd|m|abbr=off}} snorkel, a {{convert|19|mi|km|abbr=off}} bike ride and a {{convert|7+1/2|mi|km}} run.{{cite web|url=http://www.green-events.co.uk/events.php?sel_year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115131721/http://www.green-events.co.uk/events.php?sel_year=2009|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2011|title=World Bog Snorkelling Championship|access-date=5 November 2011}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/teenager-in-bog-snorkelling-record-29526605.html|title=Teenager in bog snorkelling record|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=25 August 2013 }}

Image:j atkinson bog1.jpg

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.

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, Horn Dance at Abbots Bromley and Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48918857 |title=Stamps: Cheese rolling, gurning and bog snorkelling on new UK stamps |date=9 July 2019|publisher=BBC}}

References

External links

{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030413140009/http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/bog-snork.html Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling]}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20050924064259/http://llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk/bogtriathlon.htm The more recently established Bog Snorkelling Triathlon]
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/llanwrtyd/pages/bogphotos_2004.shtml Bog snorkelling images] (BBC News)
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/fun/games/bogsnorkelling/ Online Bog Snorkelling Challenge] (BBC News)
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4185238.stm New champion for bog snorkellers] (BBC News)
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4722787.stm Bog snorkellers take the plunge] (BBC News)

Category:Bogs

Category:Water sports