A Finnish pair won the annual UK Wife Carrying Race held in Dorking, Surrey. Firefighter Teemu Tuovinen and laboratory scientist Jatta Leinonen, both 28, took first place after travelling from Finland to compete. They crossed the finish line in 1 minute and 45 seconds.
The race, now in its 18th year, features teams running up and down a hill, jumping over hay bales and passing through water obstacles while the carried partner wears a crash helmet. Contestants raced up a gently sloping hillside and back down, clearing obstacles like low rows of hay bales and having buckets of water thrown at them. The course is 380 metres (416 yards) long.
While still niche, the Scandinavian sport has a following in the UK, United States, Australia, Poland and other countries. The race in England first started in 2008. Race director Ian Giles said the quirky event, inspired by a Finnish tradition, attracts competitors looking for a fun and unusual challenge.
Most contestants favoured the traditional 'Estonian Hold,' where the 'wife' hangs upside-down on the carrier's back with their legs crossed in front of his face. All 'wives' must weigh at least 50kg. Anyone under-weight is obliged to wear a rucksack filled with tins of flour, water or similar to bring them to the required weight.
The Finnish duo were crowned the 2026 champions, winning a barrel of local ale. The fastest British couple, Edward Nash and Kathryn Knight, who came just 4 seconds behind the winners, will represent the UK at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July.
With the sport's origins in Scandinavia, the UK Wife Carrying Race was first run in 2008. Competition is tough at the front of the race and good fun at the back. The winning couple qualify for the annual World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland.