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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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