Sticks in the mud need not apply as a tiny Welsh town famous for its whimsical competitions hosts the World Bog Snorkeling Championships this month.

Hold onto your snorkels and flippers, because Llanwrtyd Wells in Powys, Wales, is gearing up for an uproarious August! The town will be hosting a series of events that promise to leave contestants muddy, breathless, and grinning from ear to ear.

On August 10th, the World Mountain Chariot Racing Championship was the first daft event of the month. 

To become a world champion, and all you have to do is pedal your mountain bikes the fastest while pulling special chariots. Green Events, who organise the daft races, say these chariots are “built using traditional Roman mild steel, vulcanised rubber and welding techniques”. The fact that they look like oil drums on wheels is just a coincidence. And daft costumes are par for the course. 

Continuing the month with a splash on August 25th is the World Bog Snorkelling Championships. Participants in outlandish costumes will doggy-paddle through a 120-yard trench carved into a peat bog. No front crawl allowed here — only pure, unadulterated boggy brilliance. 

Not to be outdone, the Bogathlon on August 24th adds a triathlon twist to the muddy mayhem. It’s a 60-yard bog snorkel, followed by a two mile cross-country cycle and a one mile squelchy run. Competitors will battle the elements, the muck, and their own sanity to complete this triathlon with a difference. Fancy dress is highly encouraged, because why wouldn’t you want to cycle through a bog dressed as a superhero or a giant banana? Prizes await the fastest, the funniest, and the downright dirtiest​.

But wait, there’s more! Llanwrtyd Wells doesn’t hibernate, there are wacky events all year long. The Whole Earth Man v Horse Marathon in June pits humans against horses over a grueling 22-mile course. It’s a race that’s been running since 1980, and it’s still as bonkers as ever. Can human endurance outpace equine power? Only one way to find out.

For those who prefer their competitions a little lighter, July’s Welsh Open Stone Skimming Championships lets contestants channel their inner child by flinging stones across a tranquil lake. Precision, technique, and a bit of luck might just earn you the coveted title of Stone Skimming Champion.

November sees the Real Ale Wobble, where mountain biking meets ale sampling. It’s a delightful blend of exercise and indulgence, as participants wobble through scenic trails, stopping at local pubs to refuel with delicious Welsh ales. 

The year wraps up with the Mari Lwyd Walk in December, a traditional Welsh festivity featuring a bedecked horse skull paraded from house to house. It’s spooky, it’s charming, and it’s the perfect way to usher in the festive season with a touch of Welsh folklore​.

Llanwrtyd Wells promises a year of unforgettable, muddy, and utterly bonkers fun. Visitors will leave with great stories, a few bog stains, and a heart full of laughter. For more information, go to www.green-events.co.uk.


Pictures: The Bogathlon and Welsh Open Stone Skimming Championships at Green Events Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales. Credit: www.facebook.com/greeneventsllanwrtydwells