New mobile-phone throwing contest record

A Finnish teenager has smashed the world record -- and probably his phone -- in this year's annual mobile-phone throwing contest in Finland.

Eighteen-year-old Ere Karjalainen launched a phone the "amazing" distance of 101.46 metres (332 feet 10 inches), Finnish public television network YLE said after Saturday's event.

Second place went to South African Jeremy Gallop, who threw a phone 94.67 metres.

According to contest organisers, the competition offers mobile phone users a unique opportunity to "pay back all the frustrations and disappointments caused by these modern equipments."

Finland is the home of Nokia and is awash in obsolete phones, organisers said.

"There will be no doping tests," organisers said on their English website.

"However the jury can rule out the contestant if his/her mental or physical preparedness is not adequate for full a performance."

The event has been held in the southeastern town of Savonlinna since 2000.

AFP