Student pair win wife-carrying competition

Several wives got dropped and more got a soaking when the first UK and Ireland Wife Carrying Championships were held today.

The National Trust's Harvest Fair at Springhill House in Co Derry was the venue for the challenge, which opened the door to the winners going to the world championships in Finland.

Amid much hilarity amongst both competitors and those watching, eight couples - only three of them actually husband and wife - battled it out through four heats and a final around an obstacle course which included a water jump.

It is a sport more popular in North America, Australia and, of course, Finland, but teams from Young Farmers' clubs, the Fire and Rescue Service and a couple of lifeguards were all game to give it a go.

Any "husband" who dropped his "wife" incurred a 15-second penalty each time she hit the ground.

Glynis Watt, of the National Trust, said: "We got a few wet people and a few bumped heads but everyone enjoyed themselves."

Emerging as winners were students Clara Hawthawn-Cole and Aaron Moisson - who know all about carrying people after spending the summer working as lifeguards on Benone Beach in Co Derry.

Three types of carrying were permitted - piggyback, fireman's lift and the lesser known Estonian-style where the wife hangs upside down with her legs around the husband's shoulders, holding tight to his waist.

Clara, whose home is outside Claudy, adopted the Estonian grip and declared after they completed the 240-metre course in 1.38 seconds: "We are really very pleased to have won. I didn't get dropped once and Aaron was very, very steady.

"It was good fun and we are already looking forward to going to Finland."

Aaron was keen to get his hands on the prize - a choice between £100 (€124) or the "wife's" weight in beer.

"I am a student - I think you know what I will be going for. I fancy a few pints tonight," he said - ungallantly declaring that his "wife" tipped the scales a few kilos over the competition minimum of 50 kilos (110lb).

When they have finished off the beer, it is back to their studies - Aaron at Strathclyde University and Clara at Cardiff, before they meet up again for the world championships.