Snorkellers set to get down and dirty

While all eyes will on the Beijing Olympics this summer, the pursuit of athletic excellence will also be featuring in County Tyrone over the weekend.

It's not quite gold medal BMX riding, but bog snorkellers will be sliding hard along their 120 metre drain in the Northern Ireland national championships.

Taking part in Peatlands Park, near Dungannon, Sunday's race is part of International Bog Day - aimed at celebrating the beauty of bogs.

Featuring a number of bog related activities, the highlight of the day is possibly the smelliest water event of all time.

Snorkellers swim along the bog drain in the shortest possible time wearing snorkels and flippers in a contest where conventional swimming strokes are not allowed.

Colin Gates, assistant warden and event organiser, said they wanted to encourage bog awareness.

"Bogs are very much part of our own landscape but their conservation value and their beauty are often overlooked," he said.