DORKING, UK—Last year, Chris Hepworth and Tanisha Prince took home a title for Britain’s annual ‘Wife Carrying Championship’ race as an unmarried couple.
But Saturday’s race didn’t only see a successful defense of their title. Hepworth surprised his partner with a marriage proposal as he revealed an engagement ring after they were announced as victors.
Wife carrying race: Winners in proposal joy on finish line https://t.co/zP5bk72GqD pic.twitter.com/ArzpIpHL4K
— More UK News (@TweetMoreUKNews) March 3, 2019
Hepworth, a cross country runner, towers over his partner—who like other participants being carried—had to weigh at least 50 kilograms prior to the race in order to be eligible. Any lighter women need to be given additional weight to hit the 50kg barrier.
The quirky event took place in southern England’s town of Dorking in Surrey as the gloomy weather and rain ensured competitors had to navigate a slippery race course.
The hilly 380-meter course has runners jumping over short stacks of hay and run through a ‘splash zone’ where eager volunteers drench runners with cold water.
Proposal joy for winning couple in wife carrying racehttps://t.co/CfobjYs2gp pic.twitter.com/B4GhzqqTjs
— ITV News (@itvnews) March 3, 2019
“We wanted to try and be close to the front because last year we came from way behind to win and we didn’t want to do it again this year. But the hill was so hard, so I always end up behind but fortunately, she’s really light, and let my legs go on the downhill and we came through in the end,” said Hepworth.
With their marital status formalized in line with the competition’s name, the duo will be looking for a hat-trick of wins at next year’s event and a win at the World Championships in Finland later in the year—for the first time as husband and wife to be.