About the World Bog Snorkeling Championships

DESCRIPTION:

Every August since 1985, competitors from around the globe descend upon Britain's smallest town, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales, for a competition stuck in the mire: the World Bog Snorkelling Championships. The hamlet created the event as a novel fundraiser for a local community center; since the World Bog Snorkeling Championships have grown into an international attraction.

Competitors, wearing snorkels and flippers and often dressed in outlandish costumes, are tasked with completing two consecutive lengths of a water-filled trench cut through a peat bog using only flipper power—no conventional swimming strokes are allowed.

The 60-yard (55-meter) race attracts around 170 participants each year from nations as varied as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Eire/Ireland, Finland, Poland, South Africa, and the US, testing their endurance, strength, and tolerance for cold, murky waters in an event that is as entertaining to watch as challenging to compete in.

In addition to individual races, there are also categories for juniors, relay teams, and even a fancy dress competition, which adds to the festival-like atmosphere of the day. Additional activities and refreshments include food and drink stalls, crafts, a bouncy castle, live music, and an ale and cider bar.

The World Bog Snorkeling Championships draw spectators and participants from far and wide, making it one of the most unusual and eagerly anticipated events in the British sporting calendar.

PLEASE NOTE:
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