IT may not have been the Olympic Games but for Kidderminster dad, Richard Haynes, a bog snorkelling event in Wales offered probably his one chance of competing in a world championship.

While on a break in Llanwrtyd Wells, the 37-year-old member of the Amazing Feet Running Club swapped his trainers for flippers and snorkel to take part in the 19th World Bog Snorkelling Championship.

More than 100 competitors braved the cold and murky 360ft long Waen Ryth peat bog and Richard, of Marlpool Lane, successfully snorkelled the two-length course in a time of 2 minutes 16 seconds, putting him in 28th position out of 99 finishers.

The winner, 17-year-old Philip John, from Bridgend, beat the rest of the field for the third year running in a not-so-bog-standard time of 1 min 39 seconds.

Richard, who is head of communications for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, decided to enter after seeing pictures of previous events displayed on a pub wall while on a walking holiday with his family.

"The weather was pretty grim, wet and windy and it was cold in and out of the water," he said, "You had to keep your head in the water and it was like going through oxtail soup."

He is considering under-water mountain biking next year.