Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2008

26 May – The date has been set for the world-famous Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2008, which will see 8lb of Double Gloucester bouncing its way down Cooper's Hill once again on the May bank holiday.

While Spain has its Tomatina tomato-throwing festival and running of the bulls, the USA plays host to the World Pillow Fighting Championship and Japan sees bare men run through the streets as part of its Naked Festival, Gloucestershire is home to an unbelievable spectacle to top them all.

With a disputed history dating back to at least the 1800s, the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake involves hordes of fearless competitors chasing a weighty 8lb Double Gloucester cheese down a death-defyingly-steep hill. The slope on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester, the eponymous setting for the world-famous event, is in fact so steep that few contenders manage to even stay on their feet, instead tumbling head over heels down the hill in a desperate effort to catch the coveted prize.

While in reality the cheese can never actually be caught – with a brief headstart it soon reaches breakneck speeds – the race winner is the first person to cross the line at the bottom of the hill. Some contenders sadly don’t make it all the way down though, and instead lie in wait for the St John Ambulance crew who are on hand to fix-up the daredevils or whisk them away to the local A&E.

The highest injury toll in recent years occurred in 1997 when 33 competitors were treated for everything from splinters to broken bones, and in 2005 races were apparently delayed as ambulances delivered victims to the local hospital before returning to wait for the next batch of casualties. Spectators have also be known to receive their fair share of injuries – one year an off-course cheese took out an innocent bystander – but you can rest assured that such occurrences are rare.

Five official downhill races will be held on 26 May 2008, including one ladies’ race, each involving up to 20 competitors who will line-up and anxiously await the master of ceremonies commands before setting off. The winner of each race receives the cheese supplied by Smart’s Farm for more than 20 years – as well as enjoying local and even international fame. Children will also have the opportunity to get involved on the day in between adult races, but not downhill – instead taking part in a much safer up-hill race.

Growing in popularity every year – SoGlos.com’s video of last year’s event has in fact been watched more than 2 million times – the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2008 event is set to attract thousands of visitors for one of the world’s wackiest spectator events.

Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2007 video

If you do fancy giving it a go yourself, simply squeeze your way to the front of the crowds and keep your fingers crossed. After all, supermarket Double Gloucester just isn’t the same.

Event: Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake
Venue: Coopers Hill, Gloucester. From Gloucester, travel through Hucclecote and Brockworth until you reach ‘The Cross Hands Roundabout’. Take a right onto Painswick Road, head up the hill and keep an eye out for signs pointing to the Cheese Rolling.
Date: Monday 26 May 2008
Times: The first races kicks off at midday, but arrive earlier to get a good view of the action
Tickets: There is no entry fee or fee to spectate. Some car parking is provided in a nearby field and charity donations will be taken on the day.
SoGlos.com
December 2007