upfront
BOGS OF FUN
LLANWRTYD Wells may claim to be the smallest town in the UK, but what it lacks in size it compensates with sheer entertainment value thanks to Green Events. In the late 1970s a group of local business people met to think up ways to ensure tourism in the town. Led by a certain Gordon Green, they planned to organise a new event each year, starting with a Man Versus Horse Marathon in 1980. While the events run throughout the year, August sees a wide range of wacky activities, including the famous World Bog Snorkelling Championships. The world-renowned event – last year attracting hundreds of spectators – is fiercely competitive with participants travelling from all over the globe to enter. First held in 1985, bog snorkelling is gloriously self-explanatory with the brave competitors twice traversing a 60-yard trench situated in a peat bog to complete the 120-yard course. Wearing flippers and a snorkel, they must complete the track in as fast a time as possible without using any conventional swimming strokes beyond use of their flippers. The world record is currently set at under 90 seconds for both men and women. The 2013 World Bog Snorkelling Championship takes place on Sat 24 Aug and whether you’ re taking part seriously, in fancy dress, or just spectating it’ s always an entertaining event. As well as the traditional bog snorkelling, there are other variations to enjoy on a Saturday of swamp-based mayhem. Those looking for Herculean efforts of endurance should check out the bog snorkelling triathlon – the usual 120-yard snorkel coupled with a 7.5-mile run and a 19-mile mountain bike course. If that still isn’ t bizarre enough, there is always the mountain bike bog snorkelling, where competitors ride a specially-enhance bike along the peat bog course. Also taking place this August is the Red Kite Mountain Bike Bash( Fri 2-Sun 4 Aug); a three-day mountain biking event around the birthplace of British mountain biking, and the Summer Cider Cycle( Sat 10 Aug), this year’ s new event, where participants will be able to take a variety of courses around the forests and valleys surrounding Llanwrtyd Wells. Being Green Events, there is of course a twist, with checkpoints set up along the way providing cider to quench your thirst. JON DOYLE
Green Events, Lanwrtyd Wells, Fri 2-Sun 25 Aug. Info: 01591 610666 / www. green-events. co. uk
JOSEPH AND HIS DREAMCOAT
EVER wondered what H from Steps does now? Well, a trip to the WMC this summer should give you the answer. The Cwmparc-born singer and actor stars in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat from Tues 13 to Sat 17 Aug. It looks like the popular idea that Lee Mead was actually surgically attached to the role was an urban myth after all, then. H is actually returning to the role that originally brought him fame, having first played the role of Joseph in London’ s West End in 2005. He’ s reportedly delighted to be returning to the part. Especially, I guess, since he’ s recently been forced through the pain of Steps: On The Road Again. As for whether he’ s looking forward to a trip to the homeland, it’ s unclear as to his patriotism. Nevertheless, when you go on the Steps website, H looks intriguingly Welsh in their five-way band mugshot. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice collaboration that retells the biblical tale of Joseph, his multi-coloured coat, and a nasty bout of sibling rivalry. Watch out for well-known favourite tunes Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me, which trigger suitably emotional responses from even the most discerning audience. It’ ll be the first time the show has been performed in the Millennium Centre too, so be sure to give it a good reception. It’ s not hard, the plethora of feel-good calypso numbers provide simple PG ecstasy. Initially written for the boys of Colet Court School, the musical is a typical family friendly pleaser. Ironically though, the family dynamic highlighted in the plot is pretty Jeremy Kyle worthy: think some classic Old Testament bigamy, a spell of adultery, and a healthy belt of narcissism. Tickets range from £ 16 to £ 29, so if you wanted to see the Steps reunion tour but were a bit short of cash, here is your happy alternative. There will be camp costumes, eyeliner and unclad torsos up a plentty so it will probably be indistinguishable from those old days of Tragedy. Not that they were a tragedy of course, and nor so will this be. GWEN SMITH
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tues 13-Sat 17 Aug. Tickets: £ 16- £ 29. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www. wmc. org. uk
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