World Wife Carrying Champion unveiled

The winning couple Ville Parviainen and Janette Oksman [PHOTO: XINHUA]

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Ville Parviainen and Janette Oksman of Finlad won the 19th Wife Carrying World Championships held on Saturday in Sonkajarvi, Finland after covering the course of 253.5 meter in 63.75.

The prize for winning the race is the wife's weight in beer.

In the competition, the husband Ville carried his wife Janette racing through a course that included sand, water and fences.

The couple finished ahead of other thirty-six couples from countries including Australia, Japan, Britain and the United States.

According to Finland’s information website Finnguide, Wife Carrying World Championship is attributed to two ancient practices in that nation. One being a 19th century legend that men stole wives from neighbouring villages and escaped with them in a manner similar to modern day wife carrying sport.

In a second tale, an outlaw named Rosvo-Ronkainen made potential soldiers prove themselves in a race where they carried heavy sacks on their backs.

Pictures courtesy of Xinhua