Who needs the Great Barrier Reef?

For proof that some people will do anything for the right to call themselves ‘World Champion’, look no further than the modestly-titled ‘World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships’, held last weekend in, no prizes for guessing, Wales. The hiking version of the event has been going for 16 years now, with organiser, Gordon Green, deciding to introduce a two-wheeled version four years ago.

11 depraved individuals set out to baptise themselves in glorious Celtic peat, including two ‘international’ competitors from Ireland, and two women entrants. The course consisted of a 40ft long, six feet deep trench, filled with a fluid, the colour and consistency usually only produced after ten pints and a Ruby Murray. Into this black void the plucky contestants descended aboard a weighted mountain bike, with their only lifeline being a rubber snorkel and diving goggles.

Spectators had to fight hard for a good view of the action

Each rider was timed riding the trench out and back, with the shortest time claiming the spoils. Irish international Bog Snorkeller, Ger Martin, made it worth the long-haul flight by winning the event in a time of 1 minute 27 seconds. In the women’s event Claire Watson took the honours in 4 minutes 57 seconds. Flying the flag for BIKEmagic was Maria Clegg, the girlfriend of OUTDOORSmagic editor, Jon Doran. Her second place was a great achievement in this, her first bog snorkelling event.