Wife Carrying World Championship at some place in Finland.

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WIFE CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SONKAJRVI
4. JULY - 6.JULY 2008

The Wife Carrying World Championships will be held for the 13th time and even if the contest demands good physical condition, one cannot forget the sense of humour. The preliminary games of the internationally known event will be held in Sigleton in Australia 12th April and Estonia the 3nd June.

16 couples have already registered in the Wife Carrying World Championships for next summer at Sonkajrvi. In addition to the Finnish couples, there will be competitors from China, Australia, Japan, Lithuania, USA, Ireland, Sweden, and Great Britain.

The idea of the Wife Carrying Competition is Sonkajrvis very own and, in spite of its humorous aspects, it has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800s there was in the area a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen, who is said to have accepted in his troops only those men who proved their worth on a challenging track. In those days, it was also a common practice to steal women from the neighbouring villages.
The track has been altered to match the modern conditions and the valid rules;
The length of the official track is 253.5 metres. Its surface is partially sand, grass and asphalt
The track has two dry obstacles and one water obstacle, about a meter deep
The wife to be carried may be your own, the neighbours or you may have found her farther ahead; she must, however,be over 17 years of age
The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kilos. If she weighs less, she will be burdened with a heavy rucksack to reach the desired minimum weight.
The winner is the couple who completes the course in the shortest time
If a contestant drops his wife, the couple will be fined 15 seconds per a drop
The only equipment allowed is a belt worn by the carrier
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 organisers of the competition
the participation fee 50 per a couple

The Wife Carrying World record of 55.5 seconds is held Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ulricht from Tallinn, Estonia. The Finnish record of 56.7 seconds is held by Jouni and Tiina Jussila from Raisio.

Along with the wife carrying world championships there is also a team competition. The track is the same but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink the official wife carrying drink before continuing the race.

INFORMATION
Eukonkanto konttuuri (The Wife Carrying Headquarters ),
e-mail: eukonkanto@sonkajarvi.fi
tel. +358 (0)17-2727105
www.sonkajarvi.fi

Co-operation partners :
Veikko Tervonen
tel. +358 (0)440 278 110

Press centre (during the event):
Hannu Kernen
e-mail: hannu.keranen@dnainternet.net
tel. +358 (0)44 7408 123

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The previous winner: