US 'couple' place 7th in wife-carrying race

The self-proclaimed US Wife Carrying champion is still just that.

John Lund, the 28-year-old Wenham native who aspired to win the international Wife Carrying Championship July 1 to 3 in Finland placed seventh in the race that involves carrying a woman through a 253.5-meter course.

Lund and his ''wife," Arlington resident Julie Berson, 53, were the fastest American couple to compete, though an Estonian pair finished first. There were more than 40 couples in the race, including two other American pairs.

''I think he would have liked to have come in a little higher than that, but there was a lot of tough competition there," said JoAnn Lund, John Lund's mother.

John Lund and Berson aren't actually married. The two work together at the Somerville- and Beverly-based Gentle Giant Moving and Storage company. The wife carrying competition does not require that participants carry their actual wives; it can be any person who weighs at least 107 pounds.

Lund, who discovered the Finnish wife carrying sport when he traveled abroad in college, has competed in the American Wife Carrying Championship, which is held annually at Sunday River ski resort in Maine. He placed second in the 2004 race, losing to a Canadian team, which is why he says he is the US champion.

Based on his quick time in Maine last year, Lund persuaded Gentle Giant and multiple local businesses to help send him to Finland for the international title. The moving company also helped him recruit Berson as a partner.

It took Lund and Berson 1 minute and 13 seconds to complete the race. The Estonian winners finished in 59 seconds.

Lund had hoped to face off against former basketball star Dennis Rodman, who said he planned to enter the Finland race, but Rodman withdrew just before the race, saying he wasn't prepared.

JoAnn Lund said she doesn't know whether her son will return to Finland next year to try again.

''It's pretty expensive, and to do a fund-raiser every year is pretty tough," she said.

But Courtney Scott-Howard, marketing director for Gentle Giant, said she wouldn't be surprised if the pair makes the trip again.

''I would certainly anticipate that John would do it again," she said. ''And Julie has a very adventurous spirit."