Tetbury Woolsack Races

Prepare for the Tetbury Woolsack Races 2011, as scores of fearless competitors and thousands of spectators descend on the Cotswolds market town for another year running.

While Gloucestershire plays host to more than its fair share of eccentric traditions, the annual Tetbury Woolsack Races is a very bizarre occurrence indeed – as each year the event sees fearless, fit and sometimes downright crazy competitors run up a steep ‘1 in 4’ hill in the town with a weighty woolsack on their back.

This year’s event will be no exception – taking place on Monday 30 May 2011 – when competitors will enter the men’s team, ladies team, men’s individual, ladies individual and youth team championships in a bid to beat the day’s challengers across the finishing line in the quickest time.

The original course of 280 yards ran from The Royal Oak to The Crown, but since 1999 a shorter course of 240 yards – still an extremely challenging distance – has been implemented, with the woolsacks used being custom built by the British Wool Federation and weighing in at 60lb for the men’s races and 35lb for the ladies.

As well as a competitive spirit present at the event, plenty of bravado and a whole host of sideline activities have contributed to making the Tetbury Woolsack Races a firm family favourite for residents and visitors alike.

Tetbury Woolsack Races 2011 schedule

Please note, the following is based on 2010's schedule and will be updated accordingly as more information becomes available.

At 10am Guggenmusik band Gugge 2000 will officially open the event at Tetbury Market Place, with the day’s attractions and side shows also starting up. There will be a Morris Men display, African drumming performances, a juggling jester entertaining audiences and a Medieval magician doing the rounds – while a bustling street market will also be in place in the town centre.

From 11am in the Market Hall there will be a Punch and Judy show, magic show and Thomas Trilby's Circus Show, and from 2pm there will be brass bands giving it there all on the Millennium Green.

The highlight of the day, at 2pm the world-famous Tetbury Woolsack Races will commence, with spectators taking to the street’s sidelines in order to nab a good spot from which to watch the action. The Tetbury Woolsack Races Final will take place at around 3.45pm, with the best competitors hoping to set a new world record as they charge up the hill in the historic event.

History of the Tetbury Woolsack Races

Located in ‘sheep country’ in between Oxford and Bristol, Tetbury thrived as a wool town in the Middle Ages – becoming home to one of the country’s best-known wool and yarn markets by the 16th century. While the wool trade declined in the early 1800s, brewing took its place as the most important local industry, but the annual Tetbury Woolsack Races continue to pay homage to the two industries in this unique event – with competitors enjoying a few ales before heading-off up the hill with a heavy sack on their back.

The races are thought to have originated in the 17th century, thanks to young drovers showing off their strength to the local women by running up the hill with a woolsack. An official race day has now been running for more than 30 years, with world records for the event being included in the Guinness Book of Records.