Wife-Stealing Competition Lives On

Erhin Armstrong of Brighton, Mass., carries his wife April
as he races over a 278-yard obstacle course during the 2005 North American
Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, at the Sunday River
ski resort in Newry, Maine.

The Armstrongs beat out 19 other couples to
win April’s weight in beer, five times her weight in cash and the chance
to compete at the World Championship in Finland.

The competition originated
with the combination two pieces of 19th century Finnish history.
According to legend, Ronkainen the Robber required prospective members
of his
gang to take part in a competition while carrying a weight on their
backs. At
the same time, it was not uncommon for women to be stolen from villages
in rural Finland. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

If this competition can be expanded to include a "Senior" division,
the Dowbrigade and Norma Yvonne will go into training immediately for
next year’s
race. And if we win, we’ll take Norma’s weight, in hundred dollar
bills, please.

frpm AP