Blow-up dolls ride the river

St. Petersburg - Last weekend witnessed the unlikely event of the fourth annual blow-up doll rafting competition - officially known at the Bubble Baba Challenge - held near St. Petersburg.

This highly entertaining contest saw 150 brave competitors plunge into the not so balmy waters of the Vuoska river armed only with a life jacket, their inflatable partner and a perverse sense of humour. Contestants and their buoyant babes had to make it a kilometre downstream in a rapid flowing current to complete the course.

Thankfully there were no fatalities although it was reported that several of the female participants needed mouth to orifice resuscitation after the event.