Bog snorkelling
Competitor of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship | |
First played | 1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom |
---|---|
Characteristics | |
Team members | Single competitors |
Mixed gender | Yes, but in separate leagues |
Type | Outdoor, aquatic |
Equipment | Snorkel and flippers |
Venue | Water-filled trench cut through a peat bog |
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. A wetsuit is not compulsory, but is often worn.
The length of the trench is 60 yards (55 m) (traversed twice for a course of 120 yards (110 m)).[1]
The current World Record Holder, Paddy Lambe finished the Irish Championship event in a time of 1:19 in September 2016.
History of bog snorkelling
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.
World Bog Snorkelling Championship
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. In 2014 Kirsty Johnson broke the previous world record set by Dineka Maguire in 2013. Kirsty's time was 1:22.56 secs. The World and Men's Champion for 2016 is Daniel Norman in a time of 1.26.38. The Ladies Champion in 1.33.10, Anna Lohman, is also the reigning Swedish champion. Paddy Lambe, the 2016 Irish champion set a time at the Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships in September 2016 of 1:19 which set a new world record for Bog Snorkelling. The Irish event in 2016 was also the first time a brother and sister won the national championship in the same year. Moira Lambe (Paddys sister) won the ladies event in the same year.[2]
Other bog snorkelling events take place, particularly in Wales (but also in Australia, 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 (a 120-yard (110 metre) swim, a 19-mile (31 kilometre) bike ride and a 7.5 mile (12.1 kilometre) run).[3][4]
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.[5]
Results
Men
- 2016 - World Champion : Daniel Norman : 1 min 26.38 secs
- 2015 - World Champion : Haydn Pitchforth : 1 min 26.00 secs
- 2014 - World Champion : Craig Pedley ; 1min 33.25 secs
- 2013 - World Champion : David Williams : 1 min 32.68 secs
- 2012 - World Champion : Richard Addis : 1 min 26 secs (New world record)
- 2011 – World Champion : Andrew Holmes : 1 min 29 secs [6]
- 2010 – World Champion: Dan Morgan : 1 min 30.06 secs [7]
- 2009 – World Champion : Conor Murphy : 1 min 42.30 secs
- 2008 – World Champion : Conor Murphy : 1 min 38.09 secs
- 2007 – World Champion : Robert Liscoe : 1 min 43 secs
- 2006 – World Champion : Haydn Pitchforth : 1 min 41.42 secs
- 2005 – World Champion : Iain Hawkes : 1 min 46.03 secs
- 2004 – World Champion : Phillip John : 1 min 38 secs
- 2003 – World Champion : Phillip John : 1 min 35.46 secs
- 2002 – World Champion : Phillip John : 1 min 45 secs
- 2001 – cancelled due to Foot and Mouth Disease
- 2000 – World Champion : John Cantillon : 1 min 39 secs [8]
- 1999 – World Champion : Peter Owen : 1 min 52 secs
- 1998 – World Champion : Craig Napper : 1 min 53 secs
- 1997 – World Champion : Peter Beaumont : 1 min 44 secs
- 1996 – World Champion : Jonathan Maiden : 2 min 12 secs
- 1995 – Cancelled due to drought
- 1994 – World Champion : Stephen Madelin
Women
- 2016 - Female World Champion : Anna Lohman ( SWE) 1min33.10 secs
- 2015 - Female World Champion : Eva Jonasson (Swe) 1min 31.03 secs
- 2014 - Female World Champion : Kirsty Johnson 1min 22.56 secs (New world record and current record for both sexes)
- 2013 - Female World Champion : Dineka Maguire 1 min 23.13 secs
- 2012 – Female World Champion : Dineka Maguire 1 min 26.97 secs
- 2011 – Female World Champion : Dineka Maguire
- 2010 – Female World Champion : Dineka Maguire : 1 min 31.90 secs
- 2009 – Female World Champion : Laura Smith : 1 min 51.00 secs
- 2008 – Female World Champion : Kirsty Brown : 1 min 53.12 secs
- 2007 – Female World Champion : Joanne Pitchforth : 1 min 35.18 secs
- 2006 – Female World Champion : Alexis Howe : 1 min 45 secs
- 2005 – Female World Champion : Heidi French : 1 min 48.65secs
- 2004 – Female World Champion : Terry Avery
- 2000 – Female World Champion : Joanne Wallace
- 1998 - Female World Champion : Clare Davies
Junior
- 2016 - Junior World Champion : Tom Murphy 1 min 41.00
- 2015 - Junior World Champion : Megan Davies 1 min 54.84
- 2014 - Junior World Champion : Emma Pitchforth 1 min 26.81 (World record for Juniors)
- 2013 - Junior World Champion : Jack Everist
- 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
- 1999 – Junior World Champion : Joanne Wallace 1 min 53 secs
- 1997 – Junior World Champion : Al Hudson
- 1996 - Junior World Champion :
Children's
- 2016 - Childrens World Champion : Tilly Smith : 2 min 14.24 secs (World record for children)
Local Men's
- 2016 - Local Champion ; Adrian Matthew
- 2015 -Local Champion : Alex Creak
- 2010 – Local Champion : Tony Bain
- 2004 – Local Champion : Nick Bridgeman
Local Women's
- 2016 - Local Women's Champion : Betsy Creak
- 2010 – Local Women's Champion : Kelly Fuller
- 2004 – Local Women's Champion : Becky Jones
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Mayhem in the muck at bog snorkelling championship - Independent.ie". Retrieved 2016-09-12.
- ↑ "World Bog Snorkelling Championship". Retrieved January 2010. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ "Teenager in bog snorkelling record". Belfasttelegraph. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Bog snorkellers set new world record". BBC News. 28 August 2000.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bog snorkelling. |
- Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling
- The more recently established Bog Snorkelling Triathlon
- Bog snorkelling images (BBC News)
- Online Bog Snorkelling Challenge (BBC News)
- New champion for bog snorkellers (BBC News)
- Bog snorkellers take the plunge (BBC News)