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The UK Wife Carrying Race is one of the most unusual and entertaining sporting events in the country. Every year in Dorking, Surrey, dozens of people gather to take part in this unique race, where participants carry their wives, husbands, friends, or family members on their backs and race up a hill. The event is now in its 17th year, and about 70 people are expected to compete. The winners of the UK race will qualify for the world championships in Finland, which is where the sport originally began.

Ian Giles, the race director, describes the event as 'certainly chaotic. ' He says that there are always some familiar faces who return each year to try their luck again. The couple who have won the last two years are back to defend their title, but this year, there is tough competition from a strong couple from Finland, the home of wife carrying. Giles says that 35 couples are racing this year, and there are at least 15 more on a waiting list, showing just how popular the event has become.

Wife carrying is a sport with a long history, dating back centuries. In the UK, it is said to be linked to the Viking raids on Lindisfarne, but the modern sport started in Finland, where the first world championships were held in 1996. The UK race is a 380-meter course that includes hills, hay bales, and a 'splash zone' where spectators can throw water at the racers. There are strict rules to make sure everyone has a fair chance. You do not have to carry your wife; you can carry any adult over 18, but the person being carried must weigh at least 50 kilograms. If they are lighter, they have to wear a backpack filled with flour or water to reach the required weight. Helmets are required for safety, and many people wear funny costumes to add to the fun.

There are several ways to carry your partner, including piggyback, over the shoulder, or the Estonian hold, where the person hangs upside down on the carrier's back. The winners receive £250 to help with travel costs to the world championships in Finland. Stuart Johnson and Hattie Cronin are the current UK champions. They say the race is challenging but exciting, and they practice a lot to make sure they do not drop each other. Hattie says being carried feels like being in a washing machine. The race takes place on Sunday morning, and everyone is encouraged to come and watch, bringing water pistols and buckets to join in the fun. The UK Wife Carrying Race is a great example of how sports can be both competitive and entertaining, bringing people together for a day of laughter and excitement.