Muck and mayhem at Bog Snorkelling Championships 2013
The competition saw participants from around the globe with representatives from Canada, Switzerland and Germany getting down into the mud with the Irish natives.
Ruth McDonagh from Dublin was the fastest woman with a time of two minutes 17 seconds and Will Martin Smith from Kildare won the men’s race with a time of two minutes 29 seconds.
Currently, the world record time for bog snorkelling is one minute 23 seconds and is held by Northern Ireland’s Dineka Maguire after she beat the previous time by just over a second.
The youngest swimmer in the event was Niamh McKinney (10) from Castleblaney, County Monaghan. She advised other snorkelers not to put their faces under the water.
“Don’t do it, it’s so black, you can’t see anything. The water’s cold at first but you get used to it.”
The oldest contestant was Maura Campbell Grace (65) from Belfast who completed the race with her daughter Jane. She said: “I’m frightened of water and I’m so proud of myself that I got in, especially at my age and with my bad knee, but it feels wonderful.
“I think it’s lovely that mother and daughter can do these things together, it’s fantastic. I helped her when she was a little baby and she pulled me along through that muck today.”
Paddy Hayes from Tipperary said: “I’m wrecked but I feel great. I achieved my best time today, my personal best, I’m delighted.”
Declan Connolly, one of the founders of the championship, explains how it started: “A mate of mine asked me had I ever heard of bogsnorkelling.
“I said no, so I googled it and I discovered this big wacky event that takes place in Wales every year so I just said to myself if they can do it, why can’t we?
“We started five years ago and every year it just got bigger and bigger.”
Gillian Moore, a member of the organising committee, said: “This year it’s become a weekend festival. There’s camping, zorbing, barbeque, beer, bouncy castles… entertainment for all the family. It’s a big family day out.”
The event takes place each year in Castleblaney, County Monaghan and is run by a team of volunteers. All proceeds go to Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
To find out more, go to www.irishbogsnorkelling.com
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