Bog-snorkelling champion claims third crown

link : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040831/80/f1lj1.html

LONDON (Reuters) - Philip John from south Wales has won his third straight World Bog Snorkelling championship, a bizarre title which requires swimming through a weedy, muck-filled trench.


Armed with flippers and a snorkel, John, 17, took just over 1.38 minutes to swim two lengths of a 60-yard trench, cut from a peat bog on the outskirts of Llanwrtyd Wells, Britain's smallest town.


"I'm quite pleased with that, even though I haven't been training for about 2-3 weeks," said John from Bridgend.


Competitors in the 19th annual event were allowed to use snorkels, flippers and wet suits but no conventional swimming arm strokes.


"It was hard work -- a lot harder than it looks," said another participant. "It really is quite an incredible event. You get halfway and think 'I can't go any further' but everybody cheers you along."