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In Pictures: Bog triathlon sees good clean contest

The race precedes the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships on Sunday.
The race precedes the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships on Sunday. The race precedes the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships on Sunday.

There was very little visibility on the course – at least in the swimming section – when the Rude Health Bog Triathlon was held at Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales on Saturday.

The event, one of the most unusual in the triathlon calendar, has been running since 2005 around the Waen Rhydd Bog, which is well-known for hosting the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships.

Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)

The triathlon sees individuals or relay teams of three run for eight miles before swimming a single length of the 60-yard peat bog trench. They then force their tired limbs on a 12-mile mountain bike ride.

Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)

The course will be reset on Sunday for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, a charity fundraising event which has been running since the 1980s and attracts hundreds of spectators.

Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales
Rude Health Bog Triathlon – Wales (Ben Birchall/PA