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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Biking bog snorkellers get dirty | Biking bog snorkellers get dirty |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Biking through a muddy bog wearing lead weights isn't exactly what most people like to do with their weekends. | Biking through a muddy bog wearing lead weights isn't exactly what most people like to do with their weekends. |
| But for madcap sport fans the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships is a must-do event. | But for madcap sport fans the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships is a must-do event. |
| As the Tour de France started in Brittany, in the Powys town of Llanwrtyd Wells, cyclists headed for the bottom of a 6ft deep peat bog wearing a mask and snorkel on Saturday. | As the Tour de France started in Brittany, in the Powys town of Llanwrtyd Wells, cyclists headed for the bottom of a 6ft deep peat bog wearing a mask and snorkel on Saturday. |
| On Sunday, they take on the gruelling challenge of The Bog Triathlon. | On Sunday, they take on the gruelling challenge of The Bog Triathlon. |
| Both events are spin-offs of the popular - and now notorious - World Bog Snorkelling Championship, which takes place in the picturesque town every August Bank Holiday. | Both events are spin-offs of the popular - and now notorious - World Bog Snorkelling Championship, which takes place in the picturesque town every August Bank Holiday. |
| Competitors first added a mountain bike to the bog-snorkelling proceedings in 2005 and it has been growing in popularity ever since. | Competitors first added a mountain bike to the bog-snorkelling proceedings in 2005 and it has been growing in popularity ever since. |
| Those who accept the challenge use a bike prepared with a lead-filled frame and water-filled tyres to ensure grip on the pond bottom. | |
| We have had a little rain but of course that doesn't bother the competitors today Sheila Tomkins, organiser class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/uk_bog_snorkelling_on_bikes/html/1.stm">In pictures: Bog snorkelling by bike The snorkeller-cyclist wears a lead weight belt to avoid floating off the bike. | |
| While what is known as scuba drivers are on hand for safety purposes. | |
| Organiser Sheila Tomkins, who is part of Green Events Ltd which has put together the whole menu of bog snorkelling events, said: "We have had a little rain but of course that doesn't bother the competitors today. | Organiser Sheila Tomkins, who is part of Green Events Ltd which has put together the whole menu of bog snorkelling events, said: "We have had a little rain but of course that doesn't bother the competitors today. |
| "We have just had the first person through, a woman, who found it physically demanding but got through in 4 minutes 31 seconds. | "We have just had the first person through, a woman, who found it physically demanding but got through in 4 minutes 31 seconds. |
| "Turn out is excellent and there is a real buzz going round. We have just had a group of 10 people turn up from Bragster.com. | "Turn out is excellent and there is a real buzz going round. We have just had a group of 10 people turn up from Bragster.com. |
| "That is a website for people who dare each other to turn up and take part in challenging events, which this obviously is. | "That is a website for people who dare each other to turn up and take part in challenging events, which this obviously is. |
| "All the signs are that this is quickly becoming an event which people will turn up to take part in and watch." | "All the signs are that this is quickly becoming an event which people will turn up to take part in and watch." |
| For some, however, Saturday's event is simply a warm-up for Sunday's more gruelling challenge The Bog Triathlon. | For some, however, Saturday's event is simply a warm-up for Sunday's more gruelling challenge The Bog Triathlon. |
| Organisers say the triathlon was set up to accommodate overwhelming demand for "more dirty fun around our famous Waen Rhydd Bog". | Organisers say the triathlon was set up to accommodate overwhelming demand for "more dirty fun around our famous Waen Rhydd Bog". |
| "The event is one of the most unusual in the triathlon calendar and starts with a 12 mile run," a spokesman for the event said. | "The event is one of the most unusual in the triathlon calendar and starts with a 12 mile run," a spokesman for the event said. |
| "It is followed by two lengths of the 60 yard peat bog trench and then a 25 mile mountain cycle. The event is open to individuals and relay teams" | "It is followed by two lengths of the 60 yard peat bog trench and then a 25 mile mountain cycle. The event is open to individuals and relay teams" |