When you think that anything else can’t be a sport, this comes in from Wales!
New champion for bog snorkellers
A firefighter from Bristol has won one of the UK’s strangest sporting events in mid Wales.
Ian Hawkes, originally from Llandrindod Wells, triumphed in the world bog snorkelling championships in Llanwrtyd Wells in Powys on Monday.
He took over from reigning champion Philip John, who had won for the previous three years.
Competitors must swim two lengths of the 60-yard Waen Rhydd peat bog without using conventional swimming strokes.
The contest began after a pub conversation when a local charity was searching for fundraising ideas.
This year’s contest is the 20th annual event, and organisers dug a second trench in expectation of a record number of competitors.
After beating about 130 entrants, Mr Hawkes said that the reigning champion’s absence helped him take the title.
“The lad who has been winning it for the last few years - he is a real flier - he wasn’t here this year,” he said.
“I think this is about my fifth time - I have got to be good at something - I was useless on my GCSEs, never went to uni, but I am champion of the bog snorkelling.”
He said conditions had been tough, but mostly for those watching.
“I felt sorry for the spectators - they must have been freezing - it chucked it down for most of the day.”
Speaking before the race, organiser Gordon Green said the event appeared to be “more popular than ever”.
“We’ve dug two channels for the first time this year to cope with the amount of entrants and we’re expecting people from around to take part.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/mid/4185238.stm
Published: 2005/08/29 17:05:24 GMT
Now how many pints of Guinness do you think it would take to this?
MarkB
