Bog snorkelling's Gordon Green gets tourism accolade

The Bog Snorkelling Championship sees competitors swim a muddy trench

The creator of bog snorkelling and wife-carrying events has been given an outstanding achievement award for putting mid Wales on the tourism map.

Gordon Green, from Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, launched the events after the decline of pony-trekking in the area in the 1970s, hosting other events like last year's World Alternative Games.

He received the accolade at the National Tourism Awards in Llandudno marking 40 years' work.

"It's an honour," said Mr Green.

The World Bog Snorkelling Championship sees competitors swim up and down a muddy trench.

But the first event hosted was the Man v Horse race in 1980, which is now an annual event.

Gravy wrestling

Mr Green stepped down as chairman of not-for-profit Green Events Ltd in 2009 but returned last year to help host the World Alternative Games.

Events included worm charming, underwater hockey, gravy wrestling, Russian egg roulette and wheel barrow racing.

Thursday night's awards were staged by Visit Wales, in partnership with the Wales Tourism Alliance, saw the Young Tourism Entrepreneur award go to Phil Scott and Tom Ashwell who run RibRide at Anglesey, leading adventure boat tours on Menai Strait.

They started the business in 2005 with a single used boat and now have four along with two park-and-launch boat yards, five full time staff, two part time staff and 10 self employed workers.