Estonians Prove World Beaters at Wife-Carrying
Mon Jul 8, 3:40 PM ET
By Paul de Bendern
SONKAJARVI, Finland (Reuters) - Estonians ran off with the world wife-carrying title for the fifth year in a row despite new rules on the weight of the spouse.
Using the trademark "Estonia carry," in which the woman squeezes her thighs on the sides of the man's face while hanging upside down along his back, Meelis Tammre, 24, and Anna Zilberberg, 21, were fastest round the 278-yard course.
Thirty-six couples from eight countries took part in the event, in which a man has to carry his wife or partner over a rough track that includes two timber hurdles and a chest-high water pool.
"I have come second three times. Finally I have won," said an exhausted Tammre, who won with a time of one minute four seconds. "But the competition is getting tougher."
Up to 6,000 people watched as the couples braved bad weather to toil round the course in a rough forest clearing near the central Finnish village of Sonkajarvi, only a few hours' drive from the Arctic Circle.
Women contestants wore crash helmets due to the inherent perils of the favored "Estonia carry" upside-down position, which allows the man to run and use his arms freely.
A new minimum weight requirement for the women of 108 pounds was introduced this year. Competitors had to add weights if necessary to make up the difference.
Absent were last year's champions Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ulricht -- weighing only 75 pounds -- from Estonia, famous for inventing the spouse-toting hold now used by most competitors.
LEGENDARY WIFE THEFT
Wife-carrying is rooted in local history. It is linked to the legend of a local chieftain, Ronkkainen the Robber, whose gang stole wives from rivals in neighboring villages.
The idea was revived in contest form 10 years ago and is held every year. The popularity of the bizarre sport has led to the creation of North American, Danish, Finnish and Estonian wife carrying championships.
Top prize is the female champion's weight in beer -- in this case Anna's 108 pounds.
Competitors this year included couples from Britain, Estonia, Finland, United States, Netherlands and Norway.
Estonians explained their strengths.
"Our men as so fit, they do other sports. My partner has been a professional athlete for 12 years," said Zilberberg, who admitted she had to gain four pounds to reach the 108-pound weight limit.
"Estonians win because they have thin and beautiful women," she said with a smile.
Finns Taisto Miettinen and Heidi Yliharju came second with Estonian couple Jaanus and Anneli Undrest third.
"We've been surprised that foreigners, especially Estonians, take it so seriously. When we started the event it was only fun. The way it's going it could become an Olympic event," said Finn Sari Ronkainen, who runs a local glass business.
"I am in a world of pain but I'm happy. I survived the water obstacle and I can't even swim," said Briton Mark Hawkins, a 27-year-old electrical engineer from Bristol, who is soon to marry his Finnish fiancee Sari Tuppurainen.
Those wacky Estonians...
Is it like a Nubian?
Linear Mode
