This is a group of people looking at a bog in mid Wales. Could this be the location for
the latest rave, impromptu pop concert, archaeological dig? Maybe not. But here's one man who seems
to know what is happening. We've dug a trench in a bog just on the outskirts of an altered
world and it's about two metres deep and what we've done is we've modified mountain bikes by
filling them with lead and put in water in the tires. The cyclist then has to cycle into the
water and staying underwater, breathe through a snorkel and he has to travel 15 metres round a
pole and back again so he's got to cover about 30 metres. In fact these are the world championships
for the sport, months of training culminating in this premiere competition. Prior to the
actual contests several competitors take advantage of a practice run. As with most
sports there are separate competitions for men and women. This practice run was going well
until a fellow causes disruption, however she is still optimistic. Well I think it was a dry run,
it probably wasn't such a bad one. I might try and get round the course next time. As the time
is three o'clock the competition starts for real and the time for practice is over. The task is
that competitors are required to ride the bike round the pole at the end. This competitor Tom
Wilson seems to have some different ideas. One by one the competitors complete their
runs with the aim of becoming the shoe macker of the sport and establish an unbeatable world record.
This is Maria Tomlinson the first lady competitor. Just by finishing she will become Lady World Champion.
That was so...
Now you're the world record holder. What was the most fantastic part of that trip?
I think actually getting on the level and having someone playing in my ear, you're not going to
drown, you're not going to drown. That was quite a good moment, thank you for that.
So do you think you could perfect your technique a little bit and knock a second or two off the
ground? I think that could be done. Runs very in quality but the world record still remains at
over two minutes. This competitor Gavin White seems to be going well as he scores the first sub
two-minute time and becomes men's world champion. It's an ambition beyond which there is no other.
The second lady competitor Claire Watson could she take the title from Maria?
She seems to be going very well and Maria's title as world champion looks as if it is going to be
shortly. With a time of two minutes ten seconds Claire shatters the record and takes the title.
So it's just great fun, really really really good fun and I'm sort of contemplated all afternoon
whether to do it or not. So yeah a couple of listeners might as well give it a go. Yeah it's
great, really enjoyed it. The men's competition continues with Irish doctor Jerry Martin. Jerry's
style is good. Could the present world champions plan to move to Uzbekistan be in dispute?
Encouraged by his fellow competitors and friends Jerry is over ten seconds quicker
and records a time of one minute 28 seconds. I started on the bike and went under and just
took a really deep breath and went first and just tried to stay under the water as long as I could.
Once I got past the post I kind of felt I was there so I just again just went under and just
stayed under as long as I could and just kept going and going and going and what I was trying to do
was just trying to listen to people around because then I knew I'd crossed the line because I didn't
know where the line was but when I people showed I knew I would cross the line and that's that's how I went.
Could this record be broken? Possibly, but at least for the next year Jerry's patience
will be treated by a world champion.
