Bog snorkelling

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.