Thousands of expectant spectators gathered to watch the fallout from a race with the potential to cause many a heated argument.

A total of 36 competitors from 13 different nations put their relationships very publicly on the line at this year's World Wife Carrying Championship.

Taking place for the 14th time, the event in Sonkajarvi in eastern Finland was won by a Finn for the first time in eleven years.

Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina Haapanen were just half a second ahead of an Estonian pair, Alar Voogla and Kristi Viltrop.

Other participants came from as far afield as Australia, Japan and the United States, although organisers admitted some contestants from previous years had to cancel this year due to injuries.

The first Wife Carrying Championships were arranged in 1992 when local business people in Sonkajarvi thought of ways to promote interesting local events in the area.

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