| Bog snorkelling | |
| Team: | No |
| Mgender: | Yes, but in separate leagues |
| Type: | Outdoor, aquatic |
| Venue: | Water-filled trench cut through a peat bog |
Bog snorkelling is a sporting event where competitors aim to complete two consecutive lengths of a 60yds water-filled trench cut through a peat bog in the shortest time possible, wearing traditional snorkel, diving mask and flippers. They complete the course without swimming, relying on flipper power alone.
The women's world record stands at 1 minute 22.56 seconds by Kirsty Johnson in 2014. The men's world record was set by Neil Rutter in 2018, with a time of 1 min 18.81 seconds. Both were set at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales.
| Time | Record holder | Location and date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 min 44 sec | Peter Beaumont of Wales | Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales in 1997. | |
| 1 min 39 sec | John Cantillon of Dublin | Llanwrtyd Wells 2000. | |
| 1 min 35.46 sec | Philip John | Llanwrtyd Wells 2003.[2] [3] | |
| 1 min 34 sec | Casey Squibb from Dorset, England | Alice's Loft & Cottages, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, County Monaghan in 2009.[4] | |
| 1 min 28 sec | Doohamlet, later the same day in 2009. | ||
| 1 min 23.13 sec | Dineka Maguire from Northern Ireland | Llanwrtyd Wells 2013. | |
| 1 min 22.56 sec | Kirsty Johnson (Current women's world record) | Llanwrtyd Wells 24 August 2014.[5] | |
| 1 min 19 sec | Paddy Lambe from Castleblayney, County Monaghan | Irish Bog Snorkelling Championship 2016 (His sister Moira Lambe also won the ladies' event.)[6] | |
| 1 min 18.81 sec | Neil Rutter (Current world record) | Llanwrtyd Wells 26 August 2018.[7] |
The World Bog Snorkelling Championship, first held in 1985, takes place every August Bank Holiday in the dense Waen Rhydd peat bog, near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales.[1] Competitors travel from as far afield as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Wales and the US.[8] [3] [9]
Other bog snorkelling events take place, particularly in Wales, but also in Australia, Ireland, and Sweden. These include the Bog Snorkelling Triathlon, which consists of a 120yd snorkel, a 19miles bike ride and a NaNmiles run.[10] [11]
Proceeds from the World Championship go to a local charity each year. Past recipients 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.[2]