BOG SNORKELLING CHAMPIONSHIPS LLANWRTYD WELLS

Once a year a small and unremarkable field in Wales attracts aqua-sports enthusiasts from around the world to participate in what must be Britain's most eccentric competition. For more than two decades it has been the home of the World Bog Snorkelling Championships. The field is actually a soft and soggy acid peat bog known as Waen Rhydd which is located  just outside the picturesque town of Llanwrtyd Wells in the county of Powys, Wales.

To participate competitors must swim 55 metres (60 Yards) along a cold and muddy trench before turning around and returning to the starting platform.  Flippers must be worn and breathing should be through a snorkel.  Given the murkiness of the water, goggles are essential. The use of conventional swimming strokes is not permitted unless the contestant is in danger of drowning.

Wetsuits are usually worn as the water is often chilly but just as many people only wear everyday swimming costumes. This is definitely the macho option and not surprisingly its mostly men who decide to foolishly brave the waters this way.  Fancy dress costumes are not only permitted they're encouraged as long as they don't present a safety hazard. 

And ... on the subject of safety it's worth mentioning that the course is supervised by safety marshals ready to take the plunge should a competitor find themselves in trouble. No ... It's not for the faint hearted as the water not only tastes horrible if swallowed but there are allegedly water scorpions living at the bottom of the trench. Fortunately they're said to be harmless.

All those who complete the set distance - and they don't have much choice as there's  really only one way in and out - receive a medal.  According to one of the organisers, people in fancy dress need only go one length instead of two but as they have to swim back to the starting point this concession seems rather irrelevant.

The concept was first dreamt up in 1985 by Gordon Green and a small group of friends who were trying to think of new ways to raise funds for charity.  Over a few pints of beer in the Neuadd Arms an idea was born that would capture the imagination of people from all around the world.  Well that's the line that gets rolled out today but the real story is a little deeper. The late 1970's were not a good time for the region.  There were still derelict houses in towns like Barry that had been bombed during WWII and never fully repaired.  Many of the mines that were the financial lifeline of Wales had closed and strikes were common.  Towns and villages were struggling to survive the harsh economic climate and Llanwrtyd Wells was no exception.

Gordon Green purchased the Neuadd Arms pub and Hotel in 1979 shortly after Britain's infamous Winter of Discontent. In the bar of his own hotel he and a few regulars realised that their only hope was to put the town back on the tourist map.

During Victorian times Llanwrtyd Wells had been famous for its healing springs and foul smelling waters. Those good times had long come and gone but were not yet forgotten. Sure they had terrific scenery, welcoming hotels and even abundant natural wildlife but so did many other places.  This was not the stuff of media headlines. They needed something new and different. Officially the smallest town in Wales they needed a big idea and getting people wet had worked before.

With media savvy worthy of any public relations guru, Gordon proposed an event so eccentric and outrageous that even cynical old news hacks would be queuing up to write about it. Bog Snorkelling took shape and yet another great British eccentricity was born.  The waters of Llanwrtyd Wells would be famous once again. The real surprise would come years later when the worthies of Llanwrtyd Wells woke up one day to realise that their promotional stunt and become an international event and that competitors were taking it seriously.

With the aid of an earth mover the original trench was dug along the line of a natural water channel.  This ensured a decent supply of deep water and a natural cleansing flow particularly during the wet season - which is most of the year.  For those who don't know, a peat bog is a natural outdoor environment where organic debris such as grass and woody plants have formed layers of sediment. Over thousands of years these are naturally compressed into Peat. The water from these regions is often exceptionally pure if the subsoil hasn't been disturbed.   Purest whiskey drinkers often go to great lengths to get peat water to use as a mixer.

The first event took place in 1985 and the number of competitors has been growing by about 15% per year. As the popularity of the event increased a second trench was added to the original in 2005.

The championship usually starts at around 10:30am and lasts well into the afternoon. It is now scheduled to take place every year on the August Bank holiday. More than 110 people took part in the 2011 event which also attracted crowds of supporters and people fascinated by the unconventional sport.  Well attended by the media it has been featured locally on the BCC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and in news stories as far away from Britain as New Zealand and India.  The 2011 men's world champion is Andrew Holmes from Halifax, West Yorkshire who completed the course in a record breaking 84 seconds.  Dineka Maguire, a 16 year old from County Tyrone in Ireland, is the current ladies champion with a time of 91.9 seconds  achieved in 2010.

The fastest local bog snorkeller is Tony Bain who has won the title for three consecutive years. The fancy dress costumes of some of the competitors add both colour and more than a little excitement to the event.  A hunk in a mankini, two men dressed as hula girls, playboy bunnies and even Captain America (who flew in from the States) took part in the 2011 competition.  Over the years other notable costumes have included a pantomime horse,  mermaids, Buzz Lightyear, Spiderman, an octopus, water dragons, a dalek and even a rather masculine Snow White. Over the years participants have come from as far away as Zambia, South Africa, New Zealand, Poland and Canada.

THE FAMOUS BOG SNORKELLING TRENCHES At times the water looked like warm chocolate

As far as the winners are concerned the prize money isn't huge at a mere £ 100 but they also get their names in the Guinness Book of World Records which is priceless.

Not everyone who takes to the muddy waters could be considered a spring chicken.  One of the oldest participants is Tom Harrison who at 75 not only takes part in the bog snorkelling but still runs marathons in both Britain and Switzerland. He achieved the championship title - Pensioner Class - in 2002 and continues taking part to raise awareness for the charity Age Concern.
 
Bog snorkelling now also takes place in Australia, Ireland (Peatlands Park) and America.  The original sport - and it's now officially recognised as a sport - has been expanded to include a bog snorkelling triathlon that involves completing the course on a specially modified mountain bike.

The competition is organised by Green Events Ltd. which is based in Llanwrtyd Wells and all proceeds are donated to charity.