NEWS FROM ROWNTREE'S

‘Bog-tastic Bank Holiday!’

The ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® World Bog Snorkelling Championship winners are announced

Over 200 people flooded into the tiny Welsh village of Llanwrtyd Wells on Bank Holiday Monday, to take part in the 25th annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships, sponsored by ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS®.

Prepared to get very wet, visitors from across the world flocked to Wales to take a dive into the muddiest bog in the UK. The dirtiest water sport of the year attracted participants from as far a field as Australia, with all participants eager to take on the World Champion, Joanne Pitchforth, who attended the event to defend her world record time of one minute 35.18 seconds set in 2007.

Not for the faint-hearted, the ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® World Bog Snorkelling Championship took place in two 60 yard trenches, dug deep into a peat bog. Armed with a strong pair of ‘bog-gles’, flippers and a snorkel, each contestant was required to ‘swim’ two lengths (120 yards) of the bog, using a non-recognised swimming stroke in a bid to finish first.

Showing true skill and dedication in the sport of Bog Snorkelling, there was only room for four winners and the 2009 ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® World Bog Snorkelling Championship winners are:

• Fastest male – Conor Murphy, from Leicestershire, swimming the 120 yard distance in 1 minute, 42 seconds.
• Fastest female – Laura Smith, from Leeds, swimming the 120 yard distance in 1 minute, 51 seconds.
• Fastest local – Tony Bains, from Llandovery, swimming the 120 yard distance in 2 minutes, 33 seconds.
• Best fancy dress – were Robin Bartlett, Ed Aetson and Adam Stokes from London, taking to the bog in a tight fitted mermaid costume and swimming the 120 yard distance with an average time of 4 minutes 30 seconds!

Cheryl Allen, ROWNTREE’S® Brand Manager said “We are really pleased to be revealing the 2009 World Bog Snorkelling Champions after a thrilling competition! The unique and quintessentially ‘random’ event was a great success and saw entries from across the globe enjoy a memorable Bank Holiday! Keep your eyes peeled for some other truly random events from ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® in the near future!”

Sheelagh Tomkins, organiser of the ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® World Bog Snorkelling Championship said “With over 200 attendees, this year’s championship was definitely one of the best in the 25 years it’s been running and certainly attracted a wide range of characters looking for a real laugh! We’d like to thank everyone who came down on the day - it’s really encouraging to see Bog Snorkelling firmly on the map of wacky events around the UK!”

To view images and find out more information on the ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® World Bog Snorkelling Championship log onto www.rowntrees-randoms.co.uk or www.green-events.co.uk and search for World Bog Snorkelling.

Ends

Contact

For more information, please call Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email rowntrees@frankpr.it

Notes to Editors
The ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS ® World Bog Snorkelling Championship
ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS ® was the official title sponsor for the ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS® Bog Snorkelling Championship, which took place on 31st August near Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales.

ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS ®
Available from all good supermarkets and confectioners in 50g bags, with an RRP of 39p
ROWNTREE’S RANDOMS ® join other members of the ROWNTREE’s family including Fruit Pastilles, Fruit Gums, Jelly Tots and Tooty Frooties