If you’ve never heard of World Bog Snorkelling, where have you been?! We’ve been running this quirky international event for 40 years now from a field in the middle of Wales. Waen Rhydd Bog on the outskirts of Llanwrtyd Wells. This year was the fortieth (ruby) anniversary, a memorial to its creator and the land owner on which the event takes place, and an every growing , internationally popular, alternative sporting event and music festival. A full on totally fabulous, crazy weekend.
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Thanks to some great alternative human visionaries, Llanwrtyd Wells became the centre for Alternative Games.
It was the late Gordon Green MBE alongside his best mate , the late Ron Skilton, who came together and created Green Events and started things off with the Man V Horse V Bike Marathon back in 1980. (I actually wrote about the history of Man v Horse on its Ruby Anniversary in 2020.)
In 1986, over a pint (or 3) in Green Events and Monster Raving Loony Party H/Q, AKA The Neuadd Arms Hotel, Bog Snorkelling was invented.
These days Green Events hosts a calendar of quirky and mainstream activities (largely delivered in Llanwrtyd’s slightly eccentric , laid back style) throughout the year, and in addition, since 2012 and ,again thanks largely to Gordon Green, we also host the World Alternative Games and bring together eccentric sports from all over the UK and beyond (like Wife Carrying, brought here from Sweden, thanks to Julia Galvin, Bog Chick and mega fan of all things Gordon)
Well that’s a potted background check.
This year was World Bog Snorkelling’s 40th anniversary. It has expanded into the most magnificent Bog Fest Weekend. A full schedule of fantastic music from up and coming bands of an array of genre plus the Bogathlon which, this year had grown to 50+ entrants in just 3 years .. The BogFest and Bogathlon are hosted and sponsored by Chapel , owned by local entrepreneur, Irfon Watkins and Ian Matthews of Kasabian fame.
I, Berni B, AKA Lady Lily the Pink of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, am the “Voice of the Bog” – that is, I commentate throughout the day. Hopefully filling the air with light hearted banter, useful information and general positive vibes and energy. I pretty much talk for 7-8 hours straight. Its fantastic and exhausting. I love it. My favourite day of the year is Bog Day – August Bank Holiday Sunday (I might note that hubby’s fave day is August Bank Holiday Monday – because I, invariably have laryngitis, and the house is quiet 😉 )
This year we had a second sponsor, Allica Bank, I have to admit I’d never heard of them but am now keen to move my business banking to them (so the sponsorship kind of did what it said on the tin!). It also had huge media interest and International competition. A group of “New-Bees” from Montana, a “Watermelon” from Florida, others from New York, Philippines, Germany, India, Nigeria, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland. The oldest competitor was 90 year old Tom Harrison. In total 202 people took to the bog,
Another person who was there who I also hadn’t heard of, was Joe Weller, apparently he’s a big deal social media influencer. Im guessing 60ish year old crazy women are not his demographic! Anyway, he was a thoroughly nice person, who was happy to support Jacob, have photos with fans (younger people than me!!!) and do a feature on our lovely event. So thankyou, and apologies Joe, cannot wait to see your finished YouTube video from here.
It’s one of those events where everyone’s a winner, the day is so joyful, plus all competitors get a medal. Plus there’s a chance to be a real World Champion. Seventeen year old Adrian Sandstrom from Sweden was the fastest male this year (time 1:28:30). The overall winner was also the junior champion, Emily Hall in a time of 1:27:97.
Then there’s the fancy dress category, which this year had huge competition but was won by Louise and Shaun Palmer. Louise came in a cardboard replica of my 1968 Hillman Husky. Shawn, as the Neuadd Arms Hotel. They always come in magnificent costumes. As do runners up Shelley and Suzanne Hemsley (mother and daughter – Suzanne is 76years old)
Honestly I have never been more chuffed. And that’s saying something, as I’m often chuffed!!!! In fact in 2022 Miranda Maloney came dressed as my alter ego Lady Lily the Pink. I was surprised and flattered.
As ever many of the competitors were raising money for specific charities and I wish I’d recorded their names and charities so I could share them with you. I invite anyone reading this who was there and doing that to comment with their charity link. There was one that particularly stood out for me. Jacob Vehey was doing a 365 Day Sports Challenge, basically a different sport every day for a year. The following day he planned to enter the Gravy Wrestling Championships. He was raising money for C.A.L.M (Campaign Against Living Miserably) in memory of two of his friends sadly lost to suicide. What a legacy. What a way to honour people who touched your life. And what a difference his commitment to his goal will have made, as their story, his story ripple into the lives of people like me. The Bogathon and Bog Snorkelling were his 331st and 332nd sports! (If you wish to donate https://www.justgiving.com/page/365sportschallenge)/
Joel, Always With A Smile, (link to his YouTube Bog Snorkel), came Bog Snorkelling 20 years ago at the start of this charity. He returned this year as Crocodile Dundee (?). He too, was off to the Gravy Wrestling the following day. Would love to know how he got on.
I must go down to the bog again, to the lonely bog and shy
And all I ask is a snorkel, and wetsuit to guide me by.
And the flippers kick and the wind’s song and swimmer’s legs shaking
And a grey fog on the bog’s edge and a grey dawn breaking.
This year we remembered Gordon, who sadly died a couple of days before last years BogFest, his wife Di , who died just before this years, Ron, who has been gone for 20 years now (there’s a separate event in his name – The Ron Skilton Half Marathon) and John Davies who died in February this year . He owns Waen Rhydd Bog. We are incredibly grateful to his family for allowing us continued use.
Just before the event I wrote a few words to celebrate the great late founders and influencers of our magnificent events and came across some hand written notes John Davies had given me many years ago. There was a quote on it, which I will treasure and I now gift to all of you…
“ what is laughter but a smile with the volume turned up”
photos with kind permission of Peter Barnett – Official Green Events Photographer!
