Bog snorkelling
Competitor of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship
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| First played | 1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom |
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| 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)).
The current World Record Holder, Paddy Lambe finished the Irish Championship event in a time of 1:19 in September 2016.
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.
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.
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).
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