CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) It may never be as popular as football or become an Olympic sport, but the event that took place at Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday was still quite a spectacle.

Officially known as the “Wife-Carrying Race” the national designation by the American Wife-Carrying Association. Jeff Lott, Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, said they decided to call their event the “Carry-Thee Contest”.

Winners of the local competition can go to the national Wife-Carrying Contest in Maine. From there they could move on to the international race in Finland, where wife carrying contests have been going on for nearly 100 years. The first event in the U.S. was held in Maine 20 years ago.

Locally, “Carry Thee” allowed either husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend to be the one carrying or being carried.  There was one stipulation, the person being carried must weigh at least 108 pounds, and yes, there was a weigh-in before the competition.

First place in the competition went to Dalton & Brittany Moore. Second place competitors were Sam & Brandy Balthrop. Mitchell and Danielle Finn took third place. Local prizes for the contest were provided by Tennessee Valley Brewing Company.

Each couple was timed and there were obstacles on the course including a stack of hay bales, puddle of muddy water, and a log across the course which had to be stepped over.

At that point the contestants were only half way done with the race. They were then required to ring a bell, turn around and make their way back over the obstacles to the start/finish line. If a partner was dropped a five second penalty was incurred.