Males or females carry a 'wife' (who must be alive, human, at least 18 years old, can be male or female, and does not need to be the carrier's wife). All those carried must wear a helmet.

There is a weigh-in prior to the start: All 'wives' must weigh at least 50kg. Anyone under-weight will be obliged to wear a rucksack filled with tins of flour, water or similar to bring them to the required weight.

All entrants will start off at the same time, and the first over the line is the winner.

Obstacles and water hazards will be included. Spectators are encouraged to attend with their own water-pistols and buckets of water to staff the 'Splash Zone' (return leg only - something for the competitors to look forward to!).

The winner of the UK Wife Carrying Race will win a barrel of local Ale (worth £150).

The first-placed British finishers will win £250 towards their expenses in representing Britain and competing in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July.*

The carrier who completes the course with the heaviest wife will win a pound of sausages (for strength) and a ceremonial pat on the back from the other carriers.

The oldest carrier will receive the tin of pilchards and jar of Bovril, 'you know, from before the war.'

You can use any one of the many recognised holds: bridal carry, piggy-back, shoulder-ride, fireman's carry (across the shoulders), the well-recognised and very fast Estonian Hold (wife hangs upside-down on man's back, legs crossed in front of the man's face) or the not-so-fast but unique Dorking Hold (the reverse Estonian).

*Winners of the UK race who go on to become participants in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland are requested to provide a write-up and photos to the UK race.

"Do you like Dorking?" "I don't know, you naughty boy, I've never tried!"

UK Wife Carrying Race 2023

The 15th UK Wife Carrying Race has taken place in Dorking, Surrey, on 5 March 2023, and featured 17 couples from the UK and abroad, including from Finland, Belgium and Lithuania. One couple from Belfast were in town for a friend's wedding, and decided that they would have a go at wife-carrying themselves.

The UK Wife Carrying Race was a titanic battle between previous winners, and near-winners. Rangy and bearded American John Lund had previously won the third contest, back in 2010, in a time of 1:47, and was clearly pumped-up to try and win it again, fully 13 years later. Last year's winners in 2:04, Alex Bone and his wife-carrying partner Millie Burnham, both of whom had travelled to Finland to take part in the world championships but had pulled out through injury, had come back to Dorking to see if they could redeem themselves and win another trip to Finland. Also among the contenders in this year's race was Vytautas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene from Lithuania, who had actually won the World Wife Carrying Championships in 2018 and 2019, being beaten by 0.5 seconds in 2022, and who had previously finished second and third in Dorking - back to try and win the UK race for the first time.

All three sprinted away at the start, and John Lund took an early lead, although it was Alex Bone and Millie who were in the lead at the half way point, 200m into the race, and 15m up the hill. However, as Vytautas recounted afterwards, "Alex seemed to slow down on the descent, and I went into overdrive." Pumping his arms and letting out an almost Viking-like war cry as he crossed the line, Vytautas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene from Lithuania, became the UK Wife Carrying Champions at the third attempt, in a time of 1:52. They win a barrel of local ale, and eternal fame for their perseverance!

UK Wife Carrying Race 2022

Well done to our intrepid wife and wife-carriers in 2022 - you did a good job of bringing our race back to brilliant life!

Fantastic UK Wife Carrying Race photos by Steve Rencontre

Our photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2022 (photo credit Joe Spraggins)

Congratulations to Alex Bone (35) carrying Millie Burnham, winners of this year's race (they plan to compete in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July).

UK WCR in the Basildon, Canvey and Southend Echo...

UK Wife Carrying Race on MailOnline

Great video on MailOnline

Full-length video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2022

Position	Time	Number	First name	Last name	Carrier Age	Wife' full name	Club
1	02:04	5	Alex	Bone	35	Millie Barnham
2	02:28	11	James	Holden	40	Rosseline	Salford lads club
3	02:31	17	Sebastian	Shimmings	26	Helen Turner-Smyth
4	02:39	16	George	Schreuder	27	Kasia Haywood	Clifton Running CLub
5	02:43	1	Karim	Amer	-	Mrs Amer
6	03:02	12	Adam	Jasko	-	Emma Campbell
7	03:05	23	Jenni	Gilbert	39	Jenni Gilbert
8	03:23	9	Justin	Haigh	42	Lisa Murray
9	03:24	3	Joshu	Basey	30	Jessie Evans
10	03:34	8	Nicholas	Elvidge	29	Jessica Elvidge
11	03:41	21	Alex	Marr	35	Kathryn Skelton
12	04:16	4	Luke	Beal	48	Jennie Beal
13	04:28	6	Kurtis	Charnock	27	Trang Tran
14	04:56	22	Genevieve	Elliott	28	Genevieve Elliott
15	05:02	24	Ethan	Maddison	24	Max Kirrane	GiveMeSport
16	05:05	10	Joel	Hicks	43	Robert McCaffrey	Always With A Smile

The 13th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am Saturday 29 February 2020

Wow - what a day! What a deluge!

The UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 was specifically organised on 29th February, a Saturday, to encourage ladies to take the opportunity to propose to their partners: In the end there were no proposals, (what a traditional bunch!) but a lot of exhausting fun was had by all. As the race countdown began, the rain started, and it became heavier and heavier as the race was run. As the front-runners reached the half-way point at the top of course, a mighty clap of thunder reverberated overhead. 30 couples took part including friends Alexander and Gavin, partners Amy and Rosie and Cousie from Ghent carrying his wife Inge (who happens to be paraplegic, and who loved the race). Just as the last finishers completed the course, a massive hail-storm soaked runners and spectators alike, so that the prize-giving was held in the race HQ - which was quite civilised!

The course was a little different from usual, with no hay bale hurdles, and also with a distinct 'kink' to avoid the runners carrying their 'wives' on muddy and sideways-sloping ground, for safety reasons.

Congratulations to David Threlfall and Cassie Yates for winning this year's race!

Full results below.

See photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 (for free use)

UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 on the Daily Mail

UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 on Sky News

Below: Nice UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 video by Dave Painter

Below: Our video of the start, turnaround and finish video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2020

In 2020 one of our athletes posted the following advertisements, looking for a 'wife':

"Athletic 20 something man searching for a slim to modest build "wife" with a taste for adventure and strong inner thighs. Willing to experiment with positions! Looking for a short to medium term platonic relationship built on trust. Must be happy to be carried some distance in the UK Wife Carrying Race and be free on leap day - 29th February NON NEGOTIABLE. Can offer serenading services and a beer in return. Potential wives should apply in writing stating weight, t shirt size, medical history, any previous experience and favourite position to yours truly by St Valentine's Day. Successful candidates will be invited for an informal dinner including blood check, sanity screening (you must be insane) and test run. Warm regards, your potential future husband (for a day only!)"

PS: He found a wife... an actual wife!

UK Wife Carrying Race 2020 Video from Phil Rubin - Captures the atmosphere very well!

UK Wife Carrying Race 2020: Results

Position	Wife Carrier	Age	'Wife'	Town
1	Mark Threlfall	31	Cassie Yates	Bradford-on-Avon
2	Jack Mccarthy	29	Teija Wynn	Eccles
3	James Holden	30	Rosseline	Manchester
4	Mike John	40	Charlie John	Clarbeston road
5	James Shore	25	Becky Hodgson	Faringdon
6	Dan Marshall	26	Beth Thayne	London
7	Richard Parker	27	Rebecca Glanville	Slough
8	Peter Lowry	29	Claire Whittaker	Barking
9	Michael Orwin	24	Jennifer Carter	Lincoln
10	Alexander Millen	28	Gavin Budd	London
11	Philip Rubin	34	Sasha Marie Woods	Edenbridge
12	Justin Thornberry	42	Marieka Thornberry	Liverpool
13	Andrew Jones	49	Emma Jones	Exmouth
14	Richard Enderby	36	Heather Ratcliffe	Hever
15	Gaz Morris	39	Heather Paterson	Guildford
16	Daniel Kozinski	45	Zaneta Juda	Liverpool
17	Joel Hicks	41	Monica Rodas	Hinckley
18	Chris Kempton	34	Jen Hunt	Tonbridge
19	George Walters	40	Laura Walters	Haverfordwest
20	Craig Hall	35	Sally Hall	Cranbrook
21	Cosie Goudesone	30	Inge Blockmans	Ghent
22	George Bradley	25	Angharad	Oxford
23	David Rogers	41	Leah Wright	Worthing
24	Samuel Ealey	23	Charlotte Wellman	Wiltshire
25	Nicholas Elvidge	27	Jessica Simmonds	London
26	Randall Geary	24	Sabrina	Kidlington
27	Luke Beal	45	Jennie Beal	West Molesey
28	Cullum Ross	35	Angharad Ross	Reading
29	Josh Rogers	27	Sarah Caroline Buck	Manchester
30	Amy Dare	36	Rosie Staples

UK Wife Carrying Race participant starts wife-carrying race in Colombia: 'Cargando la esposa'

Monica Rodas, a Colombian several-times competitor in the UK Wife Carrying Race, organised the first ever 'Cargando la Esposa' in Colombia on 21st September 2019 - a race that continues to this day.

The 12th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am 3 March 2019

The Nower, Dorking

WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY!

Congratulations to newly-crowned UK Wife -Carrying Champions and newly-engaged Chris Hepworth and Tanisha Prince!

Chris Lamb and Becky Lamb's race write-up 2019 - so close!

Steve Rencontre's photos UK Wife Carrying Race 2019

Steve Rencontre's UK Wife Carrying Race/Leith Hill Half 2019 Photo-Story

View Dave Painter's excellent video of the (soggy) day

UK Wife Carrying Race 2019 on Surrey Live

UK Wife Carrying in the Daily Mail

Great video from NVT Russia on the UKWife Carrying Race 2019 (in Russian!)

Some guys called Zac and Jay posted a video about the UK Wife Carrying Race 2019

Wife Carrying Race auf Deutschland...

Dorking-Hold-Reverse-Estonian-Wife-Carrying-Race-2019Carrying

Above: That's how we roll... in Dorking. Nick Elvidge carries Jess Simmonds in the Dorking Hold (also known as the Reverse Estonian Hold) at the UK Wife Carrying Race, Dorking, 3 March 2019. TOTAL RESPECT!

Below: UK Wife Carrying Race 2019 results

Position	Number	First name	Last name	Age	'Wife' (the person being carried) full name	From
1	10	Chris	Hepworth	28	Tanisha Prince	West Drayton
2	16	Chris	Lambert		Rebecca Lamb
3	8	Peter	Gornall	27	Solveig Oma	London
4	37	Dave	Williams	41	Michelle Gibbs	Devon
5	27	Richard	Parker	26	Rebecca Glanville	Slough
6	20	Nicola	Maguire	40	Nicola Maguire	Alderley edge
7	23	Michael	Miller	27	Naomi Walters	Nottingham
8	9	William	Hall		Becky Hodgson
9	5	Paulo	Da Silva	39	Natalja Sujetina	Gillingham
10	15	Tarran	Kent-Hume	33	Stacey Cowen	London
11	29	Nick	Pisacano	32	Christie Pisacano	London
12	28	Jonathan	Pinder	39	Shelley hughes	York
13	12	Jeremy	Holmes	56	Louise McKee	Dinas Powys
14	17	Griff	Lambert	34	Beth Lambert	Seattle
15	4	Maria	Burton	38	Maria	Cardiff
16	24	Gaz	Morris	38	Heather Paterson	Guildford
17	32	Daniel	Rodas	33	Monica Rodas	Esher
18	26	James	Parker	26	Meghan clarkson	Thornton-cleveleys
19	14	Andrew	Jones	48	Emma Jones	Exmouth
20	6	Nick	Elvidge		Jess Simmonds
21	21	Robert	McCaffrey	51	Claire Whittaker	Ashtead
22	19	Megan	Lennox	44	Jan Wan	Surrey
23	35	David	Servat	46	Dena Emonds	Bigby
25	36	David	Webster	27	Rebecca Webster	Staines-Upon-Thames
26	33	Jaime	Rodas	33	Cristina	Hatfield
27	30	Jamie	Rawsthorne	24	Max Fosh	London
28	7	Dan	Genders	34	Charlotte Genders	Birmingham
29	11	Joel	Hicks	40	Joelene Hicks	Leicestershire
30	22	Mike	Meakin	55	Karen Usher	Harrogate
No position recorded	1	Zac	Alsop	23	Simone Stewart	London
No position recorded	3	Luke	Beal	44	Jennie Beal	Surrey
No position recorded	34	Tom	Scott	30	Tom Scott	Milford

The 11th UK Wife Carrying Race

8 April 2018

Tough conditions in 2018 - slippery when wet!

UK Wife Carrying Race 2018 on the BBC

Dave Painter's excellent film of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2018

Steve Rencontre's great photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2018

Movie of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2018 on ITV's This Morning

Tim Elsey's nice short video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2018

UK Wife Carrying Race 2018 on Australian TV

Video of UK Wife Carrying Race 2018 (Kingston Courier)

UK Wife Carrying Race movie on Euronews (inc. footage of spectacular winner's dive over the line)

Race report: In wet and slippery conditions, around 40 couples took part in the 11th UK Wife Carrying Race, with participants from around the UK, as well as from the US and Lithuania. About half-a-dozen 'contenders' had a good chance of winning, but the conditions did not suit everyone. In fourth place was multiple North American Wife Carrying champion John Lund and his partner Paris Deesing. In third place was Vytautas Kirkliauskas and his partner Neringa Kirkliauskiene, from Lithuania, making their third attempt at the title and narrowly missing out. In second place was Chris Lamb and partner Rebecca Lamb, another multiple entrant and very unlicky not to carry off the trophy. However, holding off a strong challenge from the other competitors and literally diving over the line for the win, were British couple Chris Hepworth and partner Tanisha Prince from West Drayton, London, in a new course record of 1:37. Chris and Tanisha have vowed to take part in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July, and the organisers reckon that they have a good chance of a very good placing. We wish them luck!

Maximum respect to Oliver Elliott and his wife Jodie: Oliver slipped just after the half-way point, putting an arm out to break his fall. Not knowing that he had actually dislocated his shoulder ("I thought I just had a dead arm," he said), Jodie re-mounted, and they continued on to complete the course, finally finishing in fifth place. Oliver then realised that he had a bit more than a 'dead arm' and was treated by medics at the scene. His wife drove him to the local A&E department in Epsom Hospital, where "the medics popped it back in," according to Oliver. The arm and shoulder will be immobilised for a couple of weeks and will take a few months to fully heal. Despite his injury, Oliver is totally up for competing again at the UK Wife Carrying Race - "It was a great day out and a brilliant laugh," he said.

2018 Wife Carrying Race results below

Race update, 19.44, Sunday 8 April:

Direct from Christopher Burke, the husband who slipped and fell in the race, onto his wife Kate Burke, both from Sutton Coldfield: Kate sustained ligament damage and bruising, but she will be okay once she’s rested.

The conditions out on the course were slippery today, and there was an unusual accident where a woman was hurt after her partner slipped on a path of mud and accidentally fell backwards onto her. She was treated by specialisesd medics at the site of the accident, and was taken to a local hospital on a spinal board. She has undergone tests and treatment is ongoing. The organisers wish her a speedy recovery.

Robert McCaffrey, race organiser, said "I was running in the race myself, and found it very hard going, with some slippery areas after this morning’s rain. They were very unlucky to slip and even unluckier to sustain an injury. All partners being carried are required under the race rules to wear a crash helmet, and all competitors are warned that wife carrying - although supposed to be fun - is a potentially dangerous activity."

Epilogue: Wife dropped on her head by her husband during the Wife Carrying Race has fogiven him (Daily Mail)

Below: Results 2018

Position	Number	Carrier	Carried	Town
1	20	CHRIS HEPWORTH	TANISHA PRINCE	West Drayton
2	24	CHRIS LAMB	REBECCA LAMB
3	22	VYTAUTAS KIRKLIAUSKAS	NERINGA KIRKLIAUSKIENE	Marijampol -Lithuania
4	27	JOHN LUND	PARIS DEESING	Los Angeles
5	11	OLIVER ELLIOTT	JODIE ELLIOTT	London
6	40	ELLIOT STOREY	GIANA STOREY	Westbrook
7	19	CHRIS HARVEY	AMY CLIFT	Bristol
8	35	JACOB PLIETH	MADELEINE ARMSTRONG	Dorking
9	38	ANDREW SHAW	BLANDINE RENOU	Huddersfield
10	36	MONICA RODAS	PARTNER	Kingston upon Thames
11	17	JAMIE HARLOWE	ROCHELLE WILSON	Chippenham
12	12	JACOB ENGLISH	SONIA ENGLISH	York
12	28	PETER MACKENZIE-SHAW	PARTNER	Hereford
13	7	CHRIS CARTER	SHEILA FLEMINGTON	Betchworth
14	8	LAURA COSGROVE	PARTNER	Sheffield
15	10	ALEX DENLEY	JODIE CRISP	London
16	4	HANNAH BRACKENBURY	PARTNER	London
17	13	LEE-STUART EVANS	DR HEATHER PATERSON	Alfold Bars
18	2	PHILL BARNES	HELEN CREASEY	Sutton
19	5	CHRIS BRAIN	JEN BRAIN	Coventry
20	26	JAMES LESLIE	HOLLY LESLIE	Ruislip
21	44	NIKKI LUCAS	Mr Nikki Lucas
22	29	PAUL MAGEE	SARAH MAGEE	Tring
23	9	KATIE CUBBAGE	PARTNER	High wycombe
24	18	LLOYD HARRIMAN	NICOLE MALATESTA	Coventry
25	32	CRAIG NETHERCOTT	KATRINA NETHERCOTT	Cambridge
26	31	ROB MCCAFFREY	ALEX HUTCHBY	Ashtead
27	46	NIK SPEAKMAN	Eva Speakman	ITV-land
28	33	MALCOLM PERNET	KATE BARFIELD	Dorking
29	45	DAVID BRAILSFORD	Mrs Brailsford
30	30	ROZ MALIK	PARTNER	Saffron Walden
No position recorded	14	DARRAN FORD	NATALIE ASPELL	Epsom
No position recorded	15	JAMES FOREMAN	CANNELLE LOIZEAU	Walton
No position recorded	37	JUSTIN SCHALL	EMILY BOIG	London
Retired injured	6	CHRISTOPHER BURKE	KATE BURKE	Sutton Coldfield

The 10th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am 5 March 2017

The 10th UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 has taken place in Dorking Surrey, with 35 couples from all over the UK and even from South Africa and Australia taking part.

The winner of the ‘pound of sausages, for strength’ for carrying the heaviest ‘wife’ (82kg) was Kieran Hughes, who also received, with his partner Tracey Alder, the traditional 'Bombay Bad Boy’ Pot Noodle and tin of Winnalot dog food for coming last. Race organiser Robert McCaffrey won a tin of pilchards and a jar of Bovril for being the oldest wife-carrier in the race, at a youthful 49.

The winners of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 were Jack McKendrick (23) of Pilgrim Fitness, Abergele, carrying his partner Kirsty Jones, both coming from their home in North Wales especially for the event. They have pledged to travel to Finland in the summer to represent the UK in the World Wife Carrying Championships. Chris and Kirsty Lamb were unlucky to finish second for the second year in a row (by just a second!), but have written a great UK Wife Carrying Race write-up on QuirkyRaces.com

Great film by Dave Painter of Reuters of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017

UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 on the BBC

Steve Rencontre's photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017

Trionium's photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 on Flikr

UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 in The Sun

Daily Mail Online report on UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 with excellent photos

(The Daily Mail says that this is the 'Most gloriously un-PC sporting event in Britain' - what rubbish! We welcome everyone - from home and abroad, in ALL gender combinations of carrier and 'wife,' married or not, younger and older, lighter and heavier and whether fit or no so fit. This is probably the most 'PC' race in Britain!)

Organiser's helmet-cam video of the race and prize-giving of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 (uploading to YouTube)

Another UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 video

BT''s Alternative take on the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017

UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 in the Surrey Mirror

Discussion thread on UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 (Runner's World)

Above: Eventual winners Jack McKendrick (No. 21), carrying his wife Kirsty Jones, neck-and-neck with fellow competitors at the hay-bale hurdles at the UK Wife Carrying Race 2017 in dorking, Surrey.

The 9th UK Wife Carrying Race - 2016

Well done to all finishers - that was a tough one!

Our UK Wife Carrying Race 2016 photos - can be used with credit to Gaz Davies/UK Wife Carrying Race

Steve Rencontre's photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2016

UK Wife Carrying Race write-up by Chris Lamb (runner-up 2016)

UK Wife Carrying Race on Get Surrey

UK Wife Carrying Race 2016 discussion

30 couples took part in this year's UK Wife Carrying Race, including entrants from Italy, the USA and South Africa, as well as couples from many parts of Britain who had travelled specifically to Dorking, Surrey, for the race. Two previous winners of the race were carrying wives once again, although this year's sixth placed finishers Tom and Kirsty Wilmot had a good reason for not winning this year - they have had two children since they last won.

The race was competitive this year, with fast times recorded in good conditions. However, America's Jonathan Schwochert (27) and Charlotte Xiong, second-time winners of the UK Wife Carrying Race, triumphed over the field in style, romping home with a 20 second lead over the next place finishers, and setting a new course record of 1:40. They say that they will be heading back to Finland to have a second attempt to win the World Championships - and with form like this, we think that they will have a good chance! (Post script - they didn't make it to Finland - maybe next time?)

Joel Hicks, who astonished spectators in 2015 by carrying a 27-stone, 7' 4" friend called 'Tiny', once again enthralled onlookers by carrying TWO 'wives' - when one is usually enough for any man. He finished dead last, and as a non-drinker awarded the beer kegs to his female companions, but instead was awarded the 'Bombay Bad Boy' Pot Noodle and tin of 'Winnalot' dog food as last placed finisher.

Joel Hicks' fantastic video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2016 - two-wives, a must-see!

Tony Harris, a stripling of a mere 54, won a jar of Bovril ('You know, from before the war') for being the oldest carrier to finish the race, while Scott Wallace was awarded the pound of sausages, 'for strength,' for carrying the heaviest wife in the race.

Below: Splash Zone action (photo credit Steve Rencontre/www.wifecarryingrace.com) Click on image for full sized version

Splash Zone Carnage at the Wife Carrying Race 2016:

Click on the image below for a full-resolution download: Credit: Rob Irving, www.RobIrving.com

The 8th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am March 2015

Trionium UK Wife Carrying Race 2015 discussion

Fantastic video of Joel Hicks carrying 'Tina' in the UK Wife Carrying Race - all 7' 4" (223cm) and 22 stone (140kg) of him!

Fabulous UK Wife Carrying Race 2015 video and winner interview from Bernard Kasparas

2015 UK Wife Carrying Race helmet cam video and prize-giving.

2015 UK Wife Carrying Race Splash Zone and all finishers video

UK Wife Carrying Race 2015 photos (for free use - credit Ian Giles/www.Trionium.com)

Steve Rencontre's fabulous photos - via ftp (mostly for media types...) and Steve's Wife Carrying Race 2015 photos via PhotoBox

Joel Hicks Wife Carrying Photos 2015 - carrying 'Tiny Tina' 140kg (22 stone), 223cm (7'4') and UK Wife Carrying Race write-up in Hinckley Times

Photos and blog by Ellie Hetebrij

Wife Carrying Race photos in the Daily Telegraph

They'll be back - Croydon couple vows to return to the UK Wife Carrying Race and win!

UK Wife Carrying Race on NBC News (US)

UK Wife Carrying Race on 7M News

UK Wife Carrying Race on Get Surrey

UK Wife Carrying Race on Dunya News (Pakistan)

UK Wife Carrying Race video on The Guardian

UK Wife Carrying Race on NowThis News (US)

UK Wife Carrying Race on FoxAtlanta (US)

UK Wife Carrying Race on NBC (US)

UK Wife Carrying Race on NewsNow - Pittsburg (US)

Wife Carrying Indian-style (a very amusing trailer for a Bollywood-style movie with wife-carrying as its climactic finale)

Fantastic weather greeted the 45 couples (a new record) who turned out for the 8th UK wife Carrying Race in Dorking, Surrey, on 8th March 2015. The course is an uphill 190m over hay-bales, followed by a downhill 'sprint' back over the bales but this time being targeted by adults with buckets of water and children with water-pistols. A large crown turned out to watch the fun this year and what fun it was !The 'athletes' sprinted away, hurdling the hay bales, while the rest of the field seemed to take some time to wake up and get into their stride. Once they had warmed up though, some very fast times were recorded, although the fastest of them all was by Jonathon Schwochert (26) originally from the US but now a fully-paid-up Brit, and his partner Charlotte Xiong (51kg), who together beat some very strong challengers and thus become the UK Wife Carrying National Champions. We hope that they will go on to the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland to challenge for the world title. Jonathan is a kick-boxer who added weights to his usual fitness regime, while the two athletes - who met each other in their native Milwaukee - practiced hard for the race. (Organiser's note - if you want to win this race, that's what you have to do - practice!). On account of their American ancestry, their win was picked up by US media, particularly America's best newspaper, the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel covering the UK Wife Carrying Race 2015. Despite the winners' convincing finish, several other couples exhibited serious athletic skill and show great promise for future years.

John Griffin won the prize for being the oldest carrier to complete the course - his prize was a jar of Bovril, you know, from before the war. Each year a special prize of a pound of sausages ('for strength') is awarded to the carrier of the heaviest wife, while a ceremonial tin of dog food and Pot Noodle ('Bombay Bad Boy' again in 2015) are awarded to the last placed finishers. This year all these prizes went to Joel Hicks and his partner 'Tiny.' Joel is a well-built guy, but he looked tiny himself next to his carrying partner, since 'Tiny' was 7 foot four inches (223cm) and 22 stone (140kg). Joel was nearly crawling when he finally got to the finish line, surrounded by the resounding cheers of the delirious onlookers - worth it though for his charity fund-raising.We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

The 7th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am, Sunday 16 March 2014

Gaz Davies' photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Steve Rencontre's photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

More photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Kevin Hann's Photos of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Our short video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Excellent video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Cojo Films' UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 video

Guardian video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 on CBBC Newsround - so happy to be on John Craven's old programme!

UK Wife Carrying Race on BBC Breakfast + giggles

Write-up and great video of UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 on getsurrey.co.uk

Helmet camera (Polaroid XS100) view of the whole of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014, start to finish, in HD - for free use, credit to www.Trionium.com

HD video of the hay bales and wate hazards and winner presentation at the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 - for free use, credit to www.Trionium.com

The UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 from an Italian point of view (+ photos)

UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 on Italian TV, in Italian

UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 on New Zealand TV

The 7th annual UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 was won by Rich Blake Smith, carrying his 'wife' Anna (55kg), narrowly beating Vytautas Kirkliauskas of Lithuania, carrying his wife (actually his wife) Neringa Kirliauskiene (52kg), and covering the 380m course in only 2 minutes in good-to-firm conditions. Rich Blake Smith showed his early class by strongly hurdling the hay bales, but was pushed hard by the Lithuanian, who had previously placed third at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland. However, Chris said, "I felt him on my shoulder at the half way point and just put the pedal down a bit." Enthusiastic dads with buckets of water, aided and abbetted by water-pistol-packing tots saw to it that all competitors got a refreshing soaking. Rich concluded, "He was still nearly with me at the water hazard - they really gave it to us at with the water buckets as the first ones through - but I had him at the hay bale hurdles. I'm really proud and pleased to have won the UK Wife Carrying Race and a national title." All the participants received a mini-keg of Pilgrim real ale, from the Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate, as well as a medal and Wife Carrying t-shirt. The winners won a barrel of ale and £250 toward competing at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July. Myrienne Amrani carried Herwig Delvaux (they came all the way from Flanders, Belgium), while Chris Haput carried Johanna Gosling - all the way from Germany (you know what I mean). Jack Tappin and Richard Macaulay shared the sausages - for strength - for carrying the heaviest partner, after a dead heat on the weigh-in scales. Race organiser Dr Robert McCaffrey commented, "I took part in the race for the second year running, and it is every bit as tough as billed - you earn your ale. I'm so pleased that we had so many couples turning out to run - a new record of 40 this year - and we all had a fantastic time, mostly laughing our heads off. It is a bizarre race, but you can't help smiling despite the exhaustion. We'll be back again next year, and we're looking forward to it already!"

Discussion thread for UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

"We are looking forward to meet you in England and also to run together with all these beautiful people," Vytautas Kirkliauskas, city of Marijampole, Lithuania.

Competitors from Germany, Lithuania and Belgium already set to attend.

Winner of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014 Rich Blake Smith and Hannah

UK Wife Carrying Race 2014

Splash! Matthew Kay and Rachel Winny get a bucket-full at the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014. Photo by Steve Rencontre.

David Evans and Liz Eustace - Competitors in the UK Wife Carrying Race 2014...

"I have complete Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) from the chest down. I was injured in a road traffic accident in South London while commuting home from work by bicycle. During my rehabilitation at The Duchess of Cornwall Spinal Centre, Salisbury, I first met Liz Eustace, an Occupational Therapy student at Bournemouth University. We stayed in touch and ended up together as a couple."

"Myself and my girlfriend Liz both wanted a challenge for us to train with and saw competing in the UK Wife Carrying Race as the perfect opportunity. We were the first couple to enter the race with one of the two unable to walk. We ran to raise funds for The Back Up Trust. We feel it is important to demonstrate that there is life after SCI, that people are able to be happy and successful in achieving their goals, and that pity should not be the default emotive response to those with SCI."

"The race was the perfect opportunity to do so and also a fantastic experience and brilliant thing to have been involved with. We both loved the humour of the event and will be looking to race again but next time we will roping in some friends!"

6th UK Wife Carrying Race 2013

Well done to everyone who turned out today to run in the snow! I (race director) ran it for the first time and loved it!

Matt Witko and 'wife' Lindsey Finn won in convincing style. National Champions!

Wife Carrying on ITV with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby (June 2013)

UK Wife Carrying Race Video 2013

UK Wife Carrying Photos 2013

Steve Rencontre's excellent Wife Carrying Race photos 2013

UK Wife Carrying Race on the BBC

UK Wife Carrying Race in The Metro

Discussion 2013

Local coverage

Results 2013

Position	No.	Firstname	Surname	Age	Team
1	33	MATT	WITKO	31	ROYAL ENGINEERS RC
2	30	SAM	TROWBRIDGE	26	Former winners...
3	9	LEANDROS	FUGATE	26	JULÉ
4	12	JOHN	GRADDON	40
5	35	DAVID	GOULD	30
6	23	TOBIAS	MEWS	35
7	15	TOM	IRVING	27
8	31	CARL	TUCKER	25	CHERWELL RUNNERS AND JOGGERS
9	17	GABOR	KERTESZ	36
10	24	GREGG	POWELL	47
11	18	ANDY	LAWRENCE	39	HEADINGTON ROADRUNNERS
12	34	OWEN	WYN-JONES	34
13	7	KEITH	FAIRBURN	26
14	11	NICK	GOSLING	48
15	27	DUNCAN	SMITH	29
16	13	JONATHAN	HODGE	48
16	21	ROBERT	MCCAFFREY	45
17	8	STEVEN	FORSTER	40
18	28	RICHARD	SNELL	45	STUBBINGTON GREEN RUNNERS
19	26	ROBERT	SCHNEIDER	30
20	1	PAUL	BUNCH	46	ISTEAD AND IFEILD HARRIERS
22	29	ANDREW	TOMLINSON	49	STUBBINGTON GREEN RUNNERS
23	22	STEPHANIE	MCGOVERN	21	BBC - Carrying Mike Bushell (heaviest wife)

The 5th UK Wife Carrying Race

The 5th UK Wife Carrying Race, in Dorking, Surrey, has been won by Tom Wilmott (31) and his (real) wife Kirsty, both of Ipswich, at the second time of trying, in a time of 2:06.

At least two couples didn't make it to the start line on account of becoming pregnant prior to race day.

The race is over a course of 380m, and includes hay bale hurdles and a drenching from spectators armed with buckets of water and water pistols.

Competitors benefit from the inclined course (at least it is 15m downhill in the second half, when your legs are starting to get tired....!)

The winning couple won a barrel of beer, as well as the chance to represent Britain at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland in July.

All competitors won mini-kegs of Pilgrim Ale, while the last-place finishers won the ceremonial Pot Noodle (chicken flavour in 2012) and tin of dog food (and ale!).

UK Wife Carrying Race Photos 2012

UK Wife Carrying Race victors on ITV

4th UK Wife Carrying Race 2011

UK Wife Carrying Race Photos 2011

The 4th UK Wife Carrying Race took place on Sunday 6 March 2011, featuring a course of around 250m, and including around 10m of acent and descent.

A total of 17 brave couples (including one all-male and one all-female team) competed in 2011, making this the largest ever field assembled for wife-carrying in the UK.

The race was won by Sam Trowbridge (23) and his bride-to-be Nathalie, in a fine time of 1:50.64, just three second outside of the course record.

Thanks to all valiant participants!

3rd UK Wife Carrying Race 2010

Eight couples managed to complete the course - John Lund and his partner broke the course record (despite coming a cropper at the straw bale hazard on the way out) and finished in 1:47.38.

Thanks to everyone who ran/carried/was carried.

The UK Wife Carrying Race 2010 - YouTube

UK Wife Carrying Photos 2010

2nd UK Wife Carrying Race 2009

Well, that was fun!

The 2nd UK Wife Carrying Race and the Leith Hill Half Marathon brought competitors to Dorking from across the country and from around the world on Sunday 8 March 2009. The races aid a number of local charities including the Rainbow Trust and Rianna's Fund, and are sponsored by the Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate. The races are also supported by Dorking and Mole Valley Athletic Club. The races take place with the kind permission of the Surrey Wildlife Trust and the National Trust.

In the Wife Carrying Race, six couples (who did not need to be married) raced over a course of around 250m, with a slight incline to the half way point and a 'sprint' back down to the finish. The winning couple, Matt Evans and Jatinder Gill adopted the exotic-looking 'Estonian' hold, and romped home in a new course record of 1 minute and 51 seconds. The winners won their combined weight in beer from the Pilgrim Brewery - a liver-testing 120kg-worth. While the other finishers won themselves beer vouchers, the last couple to finish, Simon Bickerstaff and Louise Piears, won themselves a tin of dog food and a pot noodle.

UK Wife Carrying Race 2009 Photos

(YouTube Video of the UK Wife Carrying Race 2008 thanks to Chris O'C)

RW Discussion on the 2009 races

The First UK Wife Carrying Race - 2008

The first UK Wife Carrying Race has been staged in Dorking, on 9th March 2008.

UK Wife Carrying Race 2008 Video (Quicktime, 20Mb)

UK Wife Carrying Race 2008 Photos

Three brave couples took part: Joel Hicks and Wendy Cook, Ian and Kath Phillips, and Kevin Bailey and Kim Lowe. Joel opted for the transverse fireman's carry, while the other two couples went for the classic piggyback. Joel Hicks (a veteran fundraiser who had travelled from Hinkley, Leicestershire, in order to take part) was dressed as a baby, complete with nappy and fetching blue connet.

Joel took an early lead, and hardly slowed down to walk until the climb to the half way high point, whereupon he accelerated away again, leaving the other two couples jostling for second place. Joel - a well-built young gent, to say the least - sprinted home in just 1 minute 59 seconds for the 380m course, although Kevin Bailey was a close-run second in 2:13. Ian jogged in a breathless but happy third, to win the last-placer's Pot Noodle, in 2:30.

At the winner's weigh-in, Joel and Wendy weighed in at an impressive 153kg: the prize money was £1/kg of combined weight. Joel and Wendy kindly suggested that the prize money should be donated to the Rainbow Children's Hospice.

Organised by Conferio Ltd

www.WifeCarryingRace.com

Epsom, Surrey, UK

wife at trionium dot com

Position	Time	Number	Partners	Town
1	02:06	15	Stuart Johnson & Hattie Cronin	Woking
2	02:15	5	Tobias Chesser & Katherine Heylen	Reigate
3	02:23	10	Jack Harrison & Leah Sheard	Wetherby
4	02:40	23	Jack O'Toole & Peta Fox	London
5	02:57	27	James Sexton & Emma Phelan	London
6	03:02	29	Richard Walden & Clare Pitt	Guildford
7	03:22	26	Chris Reynolds & Freya Reynolds	Redhill
8	03:37	1	Iker Azcona Loinaz & Kamila Smyk	London
9	03:37	31	Sophie Morgan-Shorts & Johnny Tang	?
10	03:46	30	Gordon Lilly & Angie Lilly	?
11	04:12	18	Robert McCaffrey & Claire Whittaker	Ashtead
12	04:13	21	Gaz Morris & Heather Paterson	Guildford
13	04:43	16	Anagha Krishnan & Anagha Kirishnan	Oxford
14	04:46	19	Tyler McCarthy & Linh Pham	Oxford
15	04:59	3	Ariel Bolin & Ariel Bolin	Glendale
16	05:10	2	Luke Beal & Jennie Beal	West Molesey
17	05:42	22	Stephen Newell & Laragh McIntosh	Market Drayton

The UK Wife Carrying Race

The Nower, Dorking

Wife carrying can be a dangerous activity, which can lead to any one or more of the following injuries: slipped disk, broken legs and arms, limb dislocations, neck and spinal damage, facial injury, skull fracture, hernias, and other sundry injuries and illnesses, and potentially including death.

But please don't let this put you off!

UK Wife Carrying Race Rules

"Do you like Dorking?" "I don't know, you naughty boy, I've never tried!"

UK Wife Carrying Race 2023

UK Wife Carrying Race 2022

The 13th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am Saturday 29 February 2020

Wow - what a day! What a deluge!

The 12th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am 3 March 2019

The Nower, Dorking

The 11th UK Wife Carrying Race

The 10th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am 5 March 2017

The 9th UK Wife Carrying Race - 2016

The 8th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am March 2015

The 7th UK Wife Carrying Race

10.30am, Sunday 16 March 2014

6th UK Wife Carrying Race 2013

The 5th UK Wife Carrying Race

4th UK Wife Carrying Race 2011

3rd UK Wife Carrying Race 2010

2nd UK Wife Carrying Race 2009

The First UK Wife Carrying Race - 2008