This year’s event sees the return of crowd favourite The Singleton Argus Australian Wife Carrying titles meanwhile new events such as The Albion Hotel World Husband Dragging titles is expected to draw in the crowds and match the main event in the quirky stakes.
So far 14 teams have entered the Australian Wife Carrying Titles attracting entrants from as far as Victoria to Singleton for the race.
Talk that four time champion Anthony Partridge will not line up has opened the race with local couple and last year’s third placegetters Al Lantry and Emily Cant having their second shot at a trip to Finland.
The winners will take home a return plane trip to Sonkajarvi in Finland, home of Wife Carrying, to compete in the World Wife Carrying titles.
Organisers are encouraging locals to get behind the event and are hoping more teams will enter before the running next Saturday. Given the event’s history and the mind games sometimes played there is more entrants expected on the day.
Last year’s runners up Keith Horne and Emma Mellows were late to put their names down but according to Mr Heffernan the duo will be hard to beat.
In other exciting news, last year’s charity race prince Christopher Sexton, the man who carried all 120 kilograms of the lovely Irish Julia Galvin, will make his return to the Showground arena this time as a competitor.
Sexton, an Australian strongman challenger, is a strong chance to take out the national title with his partner Jen on board according to Mr Heffernan.
Meanwhile, the event’s next quirkiest race and one that will intrigue crowdgoers will be the running of the inaugural World Husband Dragging titles.
The brainchild of Mr Heffernan the event will be a lead up to The Singleton Argus Wife Carrying titles and is one sure to entertain.
A makeshift pub will set the scene with “wives” required to drag their “husbands” out of the bar before coming home and finishing household duties like taking out the bin.
Seven teams have entered with the majority locals who have put their hands up to undertake the course for the first time.
Mr Heffernan is encouraging teams entered to have a go at each event.
$1000 is up for grabs for the inaugural winner of The Albion Hotel World Husband Dragging titles.
Countryfest visitors will again be spoilt for choice on March 27.
While the wife carrying and husband dragging titles are both guaranteed laughs others to entertain will include the D&L Chainsaws NSW Farmers Challenge, an event that will test the rural ability of competitors who will ride horses bareback, digging holes, cutting posts and building fences.
The bull ride will also make a comeback with the top 10 cowboys from the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association taking on local boys in an Australia versus Singleton style event.
Then there is the perennial favourite Mallee Hens dog high jump, the Coates Hire ute muster and the Fuji Image Plus photo competition. So be sure to catch all the action of Countryfest at the Singleton Showground on Saturday, March 27.
Event line-up
TO enter any of Countryfest’s events including The Singleton Argus Wife Carrying Titles log onto the Countryfest website at www.countryfest.com.au.
Entries must be made before next Tuesday.
Schedule for March 27 is as follows:
8am Gates open
12pm Ute muster judging/photo
comp/stalls open for
trade/team penning
1pm NSW Farmers Challenge Rd 1
1.30pm Official opening
1.40pm NSW Farmers Challenge Rd 2
2pm Ute muster and team penning
presentation
2.20pm Introduction of Husband
Dragging competitors
2.30pm World Husband Dragging titles
3pm NSW Farmers Challenge final
3.20pm Farmers Challenge/ Husband Drag presentation
3.30pm Horse act
3.50pm Introduction of Wife Carrying
teams
4pm Australian Wife Carrying titles
5pm Wife Carrying presentations
5.20pm Dog High Jump
6.30pm Bullride
9pm Finish
Prices are $15 for a single ticket, $10 for high school students and aged pensioners or $5 for primary students.
Countryfest is one of the Northern Agricultural Association’s biggest events.
Without the support of the Singleton community Countryfest would not be possible.
Over 6000 people visited last year’s event and Countryfest organisers are hoping to beat that again this year.
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