Author’s Note: This article was written before the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Contest took place.
There are many popular extreme sports, but one of the most unusual is the beloved sport of cheese rolling. The sport originated in the English county of Gloucestershire, and although the origins are unknown, there are records of competitions occurring over six hundred years ago. The tradition has been brought back annually at the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Contest, which is set to return on May 26 and continues to attract contestants and spectators from all over the world.
The sport of cheese rolling is simple: a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is released down a hill with a one-second head start before competitors have to chase their cheese down the slope. The Gloucestershire contest takes place on Coopers Hill in Brockworth, England, which is the steepest hill in Gloucestershire and is about 180 meters long. Because of the steepness of the slope and the weight of the cheese wheel (about seven to nine pounds), the cheese can reach speeds of up to eighty miles per hour, making it impossible to catch. To win, contestants must cross the finish line at the bottom of the hill first. This is easier said than done, due to the steepness of the hill and the speeds at which contestants run in attempts to catch their cheese. Few are able to stay on their feet, and many end up tumbling down the whole course. Many participants have been seriously injured, the most famous example being Canadian Delaney Irving, who won the 2023 women’s race of the Gloucestershire contest by crossing the finish line fully unconscious.
Because of the dangerous nature of the sport, the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Contest expects competitors to participate at their own risk, and while there is no official registration, only those over eighteen years old are permitted to compete. People flock to Coopers Hill from all over the world, and there are multiple races held throughout the day with multiple winners, who are allowed to take home their cheese wheel as their prize. Last year’s winners include German Tom Kopke, Australian Dylan Twiss, American Abby Lampe, and Brockworth local Joshua Shepherd. Many of these victors are set to return this year, so there is no doubt that the competition will be fierce.
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