Wife carrying is a contest in which male competitors race while each carrying a
female teammate. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a
special obstacle track in the fastest time. The sport was first introduced at
Sonkajärvi, Finland. Several types of carry may be practised:
piggyback, fireman's carry, or Estonian-style.
Wife Carrying World Championships are held annually in Sonkajärvi, Finland
since 1992. History
Eukonkanto first originated in Finland. Tales have been passed down from one
person to another about a man named Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen. This man was
considered a robber in the late 1800s, lived in a forest, and ran around with
his gang of thieves causing harm to the villages. From what has been found,
there are three ideas to why/how this sport was invented. First,
Rosvo-Ronkainen and his thieves were accused of stealing food and women from
villages in the area he lived in; then carried these women on their backs as
they ran away,. For the second idea, it has been said that young men would go to
villages near their own, steal other men’s wives, and then have the woman
become their own wife. These wives were also carried on the backs of the young
men; this was referred to as “the practice of wife stealing." Lastly,
there was the idea that Rosvo-Ronkainen trained his thieves to be “faster and
stronger” by carrying big, heavy sacks on their backs, which could have
eventually evolved to a sport because of the hard labor, and muscle
strengthening; which most sports ensure. Even though this sport has been
considered by some as a joke, competitors take it very seriously, just
like any other sport. Wife carrying is now practiced in
Australia, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Estonia,UK and other parts of
the world besides Finland, and has a category in the Guinness Book of
Records. Rules
The original course was a rough, rocky terrain with fences, and brooks, but it
has been altered to suit modern conditions. There is now sand instead of
full rocks, fences, and some kind of area filled with water. These are the
following rules set by the International Wife Carrying Competition Rules
Committee: The length of the official track is
253.5 meters. The track has two dry obstacles and a
water obstacle about one meter deep. The wife to be carried may be your own,
or the neighbor's, or you may have found her further afield; she must, however,
be over 17 years of age. The minimum weight of the wife to be
carried is 49 kilograms. If she weighs less than 49 kg, she will be burdened
with a rucksack containing additional weight to bring the total load to be
carried up to 49 kg. All participants must enjoy themselves.
The only equipment allowed is a belt worn by the carrier and a helmet worn by
the carried. The contestants run the race two at a
time, so each heat is a contest in itself.
Each contestant takes care of his/her safety and, if deemed necessary,
insurance. The contestants have to pay attention to
the instructions given by the organizers of the competition.
There is only one category in the World Championships and the winner is the
couple who completes the course in the shortest time.
Also the most entertaining couple, the best costume, and the strongest carrier
will be awarded a special prize. While the International rules are the
basis for all competitions, rules and prizes do vary for each competition.
World Champions 2013 – Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina
Haapanen. 2012 – Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina
Haapanen. 2011 – Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina
Haapanen. 2010 – Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina
Haapanen. 2009 – Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina
Haapanen. 2008 – Alar Voogla and Kirsti Viltrop.
2007 – Madis Uusorg and Inga Klauso, time 61.7 seconds.
2006 – Margo Uusorg and Sandra Kullas, time 56.9 seconds.
2005 – Margo Uusorg and Egle Soll, time 59 seconds.
2004 – Madis Uusorg and Inga Klauso time 65.3 seconds.
2003 – Margo Uusorg and Egle Soll time 60.7 seconds.
2002 – Meelis Tammre and Anne Zillberberg time 63.8 seconds.
2001 – Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ullrich time 55.6 seconds.
2000 – Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ullrich, time 55.5 seconds.
1999 – Imre Ambos and Annela Ojaste time 64.5 seconds.
1998 – Imre Ambos and Annela Ojaste time 69.2 seconds.
1997 – Mikkel Christensen and Tiina Jussila time 65 seconds.
Australia Australian Wife Carrying Championships
are held annually since 2005. 2013 - South Bank, Brisbane
2008 - in Singleton, NSW 2007 - Australian Champions: Anthony
Partridge and Angela Moore North American
The North American Wife Carrying Championships take place every year on
Columbus Day Weekend in October at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
The US final takes place the second weekend of July in Menahga Minnesota.
Major wife-carrying competitions are also held in Monona, Wisconsin,
Minocqua, Wisconsin and Marquette, Michigan.
Asia Ecorun India, a society for creating
environmental awareness organized Wife Carrying Race in Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, India, Asia on January 1, 2011. The event is called "BHAARYAASAMETHAM"
roughly translated as 'with your wife' in Malayalam, the local language. The
society plans on conducting more such events every year in India. Wife
carrying in Asia is also called matukinina.
Trivia North American champions Ehrin and April
Armstrong were featured as guests on a first season episode of GSN's revival of
I've Got a Secret. BBC Presenters Mike Bushell and Steph
McGovern reversed the roles when they took part in the UK annual wife carrying
competition in 2013, she carried him. The male presenter claimed this was a
first. See also
Cheese rolling Idiotarod
Kinetic sculpture race Portland Urban Iditarod
Shopping cart race Wok racing
Zoobomb Bog snorkelling
Sepak takraw References
External links Sonkajärvi - Wife Carrying World
Championships Dennis Rodman participates in the 2005
Wife Carrying World Championships An article about The North American Wife
Carrying Championships Lonely Planet —Wife-Carrying
The Globe and Mail — Toronto couple win wife-carrying competition
Wife-carrying competition in the UK US wife-carrying final