UK Wife Carrying Race 2025
Well what a race that was! The sun shone, the wives clung on and the carriers pumped those legs up and down the hill, hurdling hay bales, dodging the water, and trying to wrestle the crown of ‘UK Champions’ from Stuart Johnson and Hattie Cronin, from Woking.
But Stuart and Hattie were just too strong, recording a super-fast time of 01:50, so they qualify once again to represent the UK at the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Finland in July.
Mind you, just 10 seconds behind in 02:00 (which would have won in most years) were Alex Bone and Millie Barnham from Buckland and Redhill, with third placed Jack O’Toole and Peta Fox from London recording 02:08, also very impressive.
But that’s not the whole story, is it? We had Joel Hicks returning again, this time with the cute and furry Joelene, whom he lovingly cradled around the course and fed soon after. We had Lee & Angela Young with this year’s top team name, ‘Don’t, I’ll Trump’ (very topical – tin of baked beans for you guys) and Gordon & Angie Lilly claiming to be the oldest competitors (I had a feeling they’d never seen a can of Spam before though!) And of course the heaviest pair, Liva & Uldis Nikolajeva (certainly not the heaviest wife though) winning a pack of Extra Strong Mints.
Finally, delightfully bringing up the rear, mounting and dismounting with the aid of a small step ladder, were Ellen Cottom and Kasia Lubowiecka. Bombay Bad Boy Pot Noodles for you two!
A fantastic film has been made of the event. Just click here.
You will pleased to hear that, in conjunction with the Leith Hill Half Marathon that ran right after the event, we have raised over £1,000 for Mid Surrey Community Fridges which is just fantastic. Thank you to everyone who ran this year.
If you want to book your spot for next year now, you can do so at the special early bird price of £39.00.