Interview: Kez Mercel & Tigger, Professional Extreme Bog Snorkellers

Every August for the last 20 years, the smallest town in Britain has been host to the International Extreme Bog Snorkeling Championships. So far the title has never been awarded to an Australian.

Kez and Tigger intend to change that, by placing Australia on the map, and raising money for World Vision in the process.

Kez; “You’ve got to be in it to win”.

Tigger; “What? In that? You’re kidding? It’s black, its filthy, and it stinks!”

Kez; “Just like your sense of humour. Get in and fin, woman!”

Some sports are glamorous, some sports attract international celebrities; Bog Snorkelling attracts a different sort of people, and that would be Kez and Tigger.

Every August for the last 20 years, the smallest town in Britain has been host to the International Extreme Bog Snorkelling Championships. So far the title has never been awarded to an Australian. Kez and Tigger intend to change that, by placing Australia on the map, and raising money for World Vision in the process.

When Kez was asked why she has decided to compete, she replied “It’s a dirty sport, but someone has to do it". And Tigger? “Someone might shout me a drink in the pub afterwards”.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Why do people bog snorkel?

Kez; “People like extreme sports. If you are afraid of dying, then the only alternative sport was Extreme Ironing. But who likes ironing?

Tigger; Because they can’t throw dwarfs”.

Is bog snorkelling dangerous?

Kez; “I’ve heard the newts are pretty dangerous, and there are plenty of those. Are they anything like white pointers?”

Tigger; “only if you open your mouth and swallow. Then you might die”.

What does the sport entail?

Kez; “Competitors have to complete two lengths of a 60 yard trench cut through the peat bog, in the quickest time possible, wearing snorkel and fins but without using any conventional swimming strokes. I am always unconventional, so well suited for the task”.

Tigger; “ You get pushed into icy cold sludge, then sucked down to the bottom of the trench where you get entangled in the reeds. When you have stopped moving I guess the course officials drag your corpse out of the way for the next competitor”.

How do you intend to win?

Kez; “By hard work and determination”.

Tigger; “By luck. Rather like Australia’s Ice skating Gold medal winner”.

What do you hope to get out of competing?

Kez; “We hope to raise a lot of money for “World vision”. We are also attempting to enter the Guinness Book of Records by taking part in the “Most entrants for the Bog Snorkelling Championships”, “The fastest time for women”, and, if we are successful this year, “The most consecutive wins”.

Tigger; “Hypothermia”.

...end.

Editors note: These guys a ma, and we love it. Keep up the great work, and go break that world record.

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