WIFE CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
IN SONKAJARVI, FINLAND

Wife carrying world championships in Sonkajärvi,
since 1992

WIFE CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

AT SONKAJÄRVI 6th- 7th July 2012

Preliminary program

Friday 6th July

12-20 Traders in the market place, free entrance
18-21 Semifinals in Wife Carrying Karaoke contest
20 English Evening Worship in Sonkajärvi Church
21-01 Market dance in the hall, music by

Tickets at 17.00-01.00 adults 15 €,

Saturday 7th July

9-18   Traders in the market place, free entrance
12.00 TEAM COMPETITION IN THE WIFE CARRYING
14.50 Opening ceremony
15.00 THE 17th WIFE CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
17.30  Wife Carrying Prize awarding ceremony
18.30  Finals in Wife Carrying Karoke contens
20-22 Wife Carrying dance in the hall
22-01.30 Wife Carryng dance in the hall

Tickets 20 €, children under 12 years old 5 €

For further information and reservation of the sales stand Sonkajärven Eukonkanto Oy

WIFE CARRYING AT SONKAJÄRVI SINCE 1992

The idea of the Wife Carrying Competition is Sonkajärvi’s very own. In spite of its humorous aspects it has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800’s there was a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen living in the area. In his troops he is said to have accepted only the men who proved their worth on a challenging track. In those days, a common practice was to steal women from the neighbouring villages. Today, not even a gentle compulsion is being used, the ladies volunteer for the mission of the championships.

The Wife Carrying Championship event has been organized at Sonkajärvi since 1992. The running number of the 2011 Championships is the 20^th and the 16^th on the World Championships level. The number of couples interested in the world wide known event is growing steadily; qualifying games, in which physical condition and sense of humour are tested, are being organised in a big number of countries around the world (study the websites, and http://www.v-maarja.ee). Besides Finnish couples, contestants will come from Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Estonia, USA. Estonia belongs to the category of her own, as the Estonian contestants have mastered the championships for years.

In 2010, the couples ranking from first to sixth represented four nationalities. The masters, Taisto Miettinen & Kristiina Haapala come from Finland. The Estonia couple Alar Voogla & Kristi Viltrop ranked second.

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 and a sprint competition.

In the team competition the track is the same, but the three men of a team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink the official "wife carrying drink" before continuing the race. A special prize will be awarded to the team wearing the best costumes. Also the most entertaining couple, the best costume and the strongest carrier will be awarded a prize

In the sprint competition the length of the track is 100 metres, and the surface is partially sand and gravel. The track has one water obstacle, about a meter deep. The contestants run the qualification round 5 to10 couples at a time and the first three of each heat will continue in the next round until there are just three couples left to compete in the final.

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 neighbour’s 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 the wife, he has to lift her on to his back or in his arms and continue carrying
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

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 )
Eero Pitkänen

e-mail: eukonkanto@sonkajarvi.fi
tel. +358 (0)17 2727104

www.sonkajarvi.fi

Interviews

Veikko Tervonen

(International interviews)
tel. +358 (0)440 278 110

v.tervonen@meili.fi

Press centre (during the event):

e-mail:eukonkanto@sonkajarvi.fi