Approximately 70 participants joined in the UK’s annual Wife Carrying Race held in Dorking.
Now marking its 17th year, the leading British duo from Sunday’s event has earned the opportunity to represent the UK at the Wife Carrying World Championships, scheduled for July in Finland.
In a surprising twist, the Finnish team of Teemu and Jattam clinched victory in Surrey, defeating a British couple who had previously remained unbeaten as two-time champions.
Claimed to have roots stretching back centuries, this quirky race involves participants carrying their partners on their back, front, or shoulder while navigating a challenging course filled with hills, hay bales, and a ‘splash zone’ featuring water buckets and water pistols.
Interestingly, participants don’t need to be married to compete—carrying friends or siblings is allowed, provided they are over 18.
Additionally, the carried partners must weigh at least 50kg (110lbs). If they are lighter, they must don a rucksack filled with items like flour or water to meet the weight requirement.
Obstacles and ‘water hazards’ were part of the course, with spectators encouraged to bring their own water pistols and buckets to take part in the ‘Splash Zone’.
Participants could use any one of the ‘many recognised holds’ according to the organisers, which included the ‘well-recognised and very fast Estonian Hold’, where the ‘wife’ hangs upside down on the carrier’s back with their legs crossed in front of their face.
Finnish winners Teemu and Jattam won a barrel of local ale worth £150
The Finnish pair had battled the ‘Splash Zone’, where spectators are encouraged to bring water pistols and buckets of water to drench the competitors
Many competitors used the ‘Estonian hold’ where the ‘wife’ clings to the carrier’s back
Those racing had to contend with hay bales on the course
Fancy dress was encouraged by the race’s organisers and prizes were given for particularly eye-catching costumes
Finishers received a medal from the 2026 race, the 17th edition of the contest
Competitors were allowed to use any of the many recognised holds for the race
Competitors were also expected to run in fancy dress with the organisers noting ‘the more eyecatching, the more likely you’ll win a prize!’
All profits from the race were donated to charity.
Ian Giles, the UK race director, said it was ‘certainly chaotic’ and added there were a few familiar faces each year.
For the 2026 race, Mr Giles said there were 35 couples set to compete with 15 on a waiting list.
Previous winners Stuart Johnson and his partner Hattie Cronin were two-time undefeated UK champions before the event on Sunday.
Mr Johnson told BBC News before the race he was ‘aware of the dangers’ and said he did not ‘want to drop my girlfriend on her head’.
They first entered in 2024 after friends who had competed previously recommended it to them.
Mr Johnson added: ‘The first time we practised it a few times and ran around our local park and with people thinking we were bonkers.’
Some couples committed to their fancy dress, including this green frog
All those being carried were required to wear helmets for safety reasons
Couples taking part did not necessarily need a ‘wife’ and could carry friends, siblings or partners
But the couple were unsuccessful on Sunday and it was the Finnish pair who triumphed, winning a barrel of local ale worth £150.
However it is the first-placed British couple who win £250 towards their world championships travel costs to represent the country.
In previous years race losers received a ceremonial Pot Noodle and dog food, while the person who carried the heaviest ‘wife’ was given a pound of sausages for strength.
The oldest carrier received a tin of pilchards and a jar of Bovril, while all finishers were given some Greensand Ale from the Surrey Hills Brewery.
Race organisers believe wife carrying began more than twelve centuries ago in 793AD when Viking raiders ransacked the island of Lindisfarne off the north-east coast of England.
There they destroyed a monastery before carrying off any ‘unwilling local wenches’ and started the tradition, according to the race’s official website.
Wife carrying continued intermittently for around 300 years before the UK Wife Carrying Race began in 2008.
