Betting On The Finnish Wife Carrying World Championships 2005
17th June 2008, by
Centrebet offers Wife Carrying Championships betting odds each July, and have been the proud sponsor of the Finnish Wife Carrying Championships for the past few years. This contest is steeped in tradition, and in 2005 it will be held from 1 - 3 July in Sonkajrvi, Finland over a 253.5 M course. The first prize to the winner of the World Wife Carrying Championships is the 'wife's weight in beer' - a keg of beer weighs approx 49 Kg. Obstacles in the race include a pool and hurdles, and dropping the "wife" incurs a penalty.
Wife Carrying World Championships - The 'estonian Carry':
In the 1800's the Finnish men used to raid other villages and steal the women. The woman was slung over the man's back and off he sped. The carry is known today as the "Estonian Carry" and is used in this amazing race. The woman hangs backwards over the man's back with her legs grasping the side of the man's head. Only the Finns could turn this legend into a World Championship Race. For obvious reasons the couple do not need to be married. I guess in history it would not have been as much fun for a man to steal his own wife! It also begs the question - the 'stolen wife' must have been a willing participant!
Wife Carrying Championships Betting Options:
Centrebet quotes Wife Carrying Championship betting options on this event every year. More information on the event is available at the Official Wife Carrying World Championships website. You can also check Centrebet's secure site closer to the event for Wife Carrying World Championships betting options that are available.
2004 Wife Carrying Championships Betting Review:
The 2004 winner was Madis Uusorg, who carried petite Inga Klauso to victory in 1 minute, 53 seconds. Uusorg went in as Wife Carrying Championships betting favourite at $1.75. In 2004 there was an added incentive of an extra prize to the winners, that being a portable wooden sauna and steam bath. Our form analysts perceived that the Estonian may be some risk as he had had hamstring trouble in the Estonian finals. We haven't been able to find out if Madis is related to ex champ Margo Uusorg, but with a surname like that, one would think he was. Madis also adopted the 'Estonian Carry' made famous by Margo Uusorg, and only had to carry one kilo of 'dead weight' as Klauso weighed in at 48 kilos, one kilo under the required minimum.
It was an exciting event which looked like being won by the host nation (Finland) when local couple Taisto Miettinen and Eija Stenberg (well backed second favourites at $2.45) set the time standard of 1 min 53 seconds. Uusorg and his partner were the last of the 27 couples to traverse the 253 metre course, and put up a Herculean performance to win 48 kilo's of beer, not forgetting the wooden sauna!
This event is one of the more 'unique' Finnish events that we cover, along with World Sauna Championships betting. While the betting is nice and small (which suits us fine), these events certainly create plenty of media coverage not only in Europe, but also back here in Australia. There is even talk of the possibility of a couple of media outlets in Australia sponsoring some Aussie representatives next year! America and Ireland were represented this year, and seeing as to how Australia have been dominating global sport, why should 'wife carrying' be any different?
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last update : 17th June 2008 17:11