The annual World Tin Bath Championships started in 1979 and is attracting hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators each year, some of the competitors travel from faraway places to get to compete in this bizarre event, others take the competition very seriously, train and prepare for it all through the year. But for most, it's just a bit of fun as well as a contribution to local charities since entrance is by "donations".
I decided to visit 43rd Championships this August and I must say I wasn't disappointed. It started off with a load of dressed-up people standing on a short and narrow peer being pushed into the cold waters by a "tax-collector". Next came the so-called 'Snake Race' where groups of people splashed their way to the finish line whilst sitting in old tires tied to one another.
But the main event, of course, is the Tin Bath Championship itself. It's divided into men and women races, each of them containing the serious competitor types who go for the win - you can recognize them by the determined look in their eyes and the no-nonsense approach to their outfits and their vehicle. But then there are plenty of people dressed in gorilla, pirate, hippy, fairy, nun and all kinds of other costumes, many of which I had no clue of what they're supposed to be. The challenge is to make it to the end of the harbour and back without the bath sinking. A women dressed in firefighter outfit tried to use her hat to get the worst of the water out of the bath, her efforts useless. Soon enough she joined a pirate and a couple of other 'sinkers' as her bath disappeared under the dark water. Before most of the competitors even make it to one end of the harbour, the serious ones are already crossing the finish lines - this year's Gold goes to 16-times winner Erika Cowen in ladies category and 9-time winner Lee Cain in the gentlemen's race.
Next year it could be you!
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