Happy couples vie for wife-carrying honors at Sunday River

By Robert F. Bukaty, Special to the BDN
Posted Oct. 08, 2012, at 11:09 p.m.
Taisto Miettinen carries Kristiina Haapanen, both from Finland, en route to winning the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Taisto Miettinen carries Kristiina Haapanen, both from Finland, en route to winning the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Avery McAllister of Belgrade, Maine, holds on as Zachary Atherton splashes through the water hazard during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Avery McAllister of Belgrade, Maine, holds on as Zachary Atherton splashes through the water hazard during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Arnie Lehto, of Boston, Mass., slips in the mud as Breanna Berry holds on during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Arnie Lehto, of Boston, Mass., slips in the mud as Breanna Berry holds on during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Michael Keefe, of Effingham, N.H., carries Jessica Keefe during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry. Jessica was the only wife to ride right-side up. They finished 17th place out of about 50 couples.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Michael Keefe, of Effingham, N.H., carries Jessica Keefe during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry. Jessica was the only wife to ride right-side up. They finished 17th place out of about 50 couples. Buy Photo
Chad Mars, of Cambridge, Mass., grimaces while carrying Caitlin Haynes through the water hazard during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Chad Mars, of Cambridge, Mass., grimaces while carrying Caitlin Haynes through the water hazard during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Roland Littlefield and Jennifer Little, of Belfast, Maine, left, and Michael Keefe and Jessica Keefe, of Effingham, N.H., race through the mud during 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Roland Littlefield and Jennifer Little, of Belfast, Maine, left, and Michael Keefe and Jessica Keefe, of Effingham, N.H., race through the mud during 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Bubba Weiter, of Louisville, Ky., carries Kathy Schmitz over a hurdle during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Bubba Weiter, of Louisville, Ky., carries Kathy Schmitz over a hurdle during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo
Amelia Kearon of Milford, N.H., holds on while being carried across an obstacle course by Ryan Banfield during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Amelia Kearon of Milford, N.H., holds on while being carried across an obstacle course by Ryan Banfield during the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry. Buy Photo
Jesse Wall of South Paris lifts Christine Arsenault after their second-place finish in the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry. The winners, Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen of Finland, hold a check for $530.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Jesse Wall of South Paris lifts Christine Arsenault after their second-place finish in the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry. The winners, Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen of Finland, hold a check for $530. Buy Photo
Kristiina Haapanen, Finland, sits at the end of a makeshift see-saw as she wins her weight in beer after she and Taisto Miettinen, of Finland won the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty | BDN
Kristiina Haapanen, Finland, sits at the end of a makeshift see-saw as she wins her weight in beer after she and Taisto Miettinen, of Finland won the 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Buy Photo

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