Europe News

Finns dominate world championship for mobile phone throwers

Aug 22, 2009, 18:26 GMT

Helsinki - Finnish nationals dominated the 10th Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships held Saturday near the Finnish town of Savonlinna.

Pauli Kosunen's 79.60-metre throw gave him the victory in the men's category, but was no threat to Mikko Lampi's world record of 94.97 metres set in 2005.

Suvi Torikka won the women's event with a 37.05 metre throw, while 12-year-old Verneri Aleksejev won the junior class hurling the handset 43.77 metres.

In all 62 contestants including those from Australia, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Japan and Spain took part.

According to championship rules, the devices are provided by the organizers who collect them from mobile phone dealers.

'The phones are later recycled,' Christine Lund, who created the event in 2000, told the German Press Agency dpa.

'The weather was perfect, warm and sunny,' Lund added.

A female trio from Japan, called Team Happi, won the freestyle event where judges award based on 'style and aesthetics.'

The 2008 championships were held in Estonia. Lund said it was not clear where the 2010 championships would be staged.