Blokes — if you feel marriage can sometimes be a burden, prove you’re up to shouldering it — literally, at Hawkesbury Show’s Wife Carrying Contest.
Wife-carrying as a sport began in Finland, with the winner scoring their wife’s weight in beer. The winners of the Hawkesbury contest will go on to compete at the championships at Singleton Show and the winner of that will win a trip to Finland to compete in the international titles.
You don’t actually have to be married but it must be a man and a woman and the woman must be at least 17, and weigh at least 49kg. If not she will have to hold a weighted rucksack. The ‘wife’ must wear a helmet as wives are often accidentally dropped (which incurs a 15 second penalty). A bike or horseriding helmet would suffice.
The carrier has to negotiate a 150m obstacle course with little jumps, hay bales etc so organisers recommend daily training!
Three styles of carrying are usually used: piggyback, fireman’s carry (over the shoulder) or Estonian style where the wife hangs upside down, face down, with her legs each side of the man’s head while she holds his waist.
But it gets better. There will also be prizes for best costume, so start thinking. Frankenstein and bride of Frankenstein? Bjorn and Agnetha? Bonnie and Clyde? Viking and maiden? Unleash your creativity and have a laugh.
The contest is on the Friday night of the show, April 24, at 6.30pm in the main arena.
Straight after the wife carrying contest will be the Young Farmers’ Challenge. Similarly there will be teams of two of either or both sexes who have to get through some ‘rural challenges’ such as rolling a swag, throwing spuds in a bag and stacking hay bales. Winners qualify to compete in the Young Farmers’ Challenge at Sydney Royal next year. It’s on the Friday night as well, at 7.15pm.
Each contest has prizemoney totalling $500 and entry in either contest is $25 per team. Go to the show’s website to register and pay at www.hawkesburyshow.com.au or register at the show office on the day.
