Wife Carrying
Wife
Carrying 2003
18th May at Meadowlands Park, Brisbane
Lions
Club of Brisbane Finlandia Inc. hosted it's first Wife Carrying Competition
in 1998 and from day one it has been a big success for the club and for local
people. Year after year Wife Carrying has attracted many spectators from Finnish
community as well as local "Aussies" and people from other ethnic backgrounds.
The event has raised eyebrows in the past as locals get used to the idea of
hauling their partners around on an 80 meter track (Australian version of the
Wife Carrying). The event has been covered by the commercial TV stations each
year and gathers a healthy crowd of supporters and bemused onlookers.
The idea of the Wife Carrying Competition comes from Finland, Sonkajärvi where it has been hosted since 1992. In spite of its humorous aspects, it has deep roots in the Sonkajärvi's history. In the late 1800's there was in the area a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen, who is said to have accepted in this 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 used here in Australia has been altered to suit local conditions. However the idea of the competition remains the same and the following rules, will apply:
- The length of the official track is approx. 80 meters, and the surface of the track is partially grass and depending of the weather partially mud.
- The wife (partner, girl friend, de-facto) to be carried may be your own, the neighbour's or you may have found her farther afield; she must, however, be over 18 years of age same as the carrier
- Each contestant takes care of his/her safety and, if deemed necessary, insurance
- All the participants must have fun
- The winner is the couple who completes the course in the shortest time
- If a contestant drops his wife that couple will be fined 15 seconds per drop
- The only equipment allowed is a belt worn by the carrier
- The contestants have to pay attention to the instructions given by the organisers of the competition
Links to the previous years competitions:
