Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake

TheCooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wakeis an annual event held on theSpring Bank HolidayatCooper's Hill, atBrockworthnearGloucester, England.Participants race down the 200-yard (180 m) long hill chasing a wheel ofDouble Gloucestercheese. It is uncertain when the tradition first began, and is possibly much older than its earliest known written attestation in 1826.The event has a long tradition, held by the people of the village, but now people from a wide range of countries take part in the competition as well.The Guardiancalled it a "world-famous event," with winners coming fromAustralia,Belgium,Canada,Egypt,Germany,Japan,New Zealand, and theUnited States.
From the top of the hill, a 7–9-pound(3–4-kilogram) round ofDouble Gloucestercheeseis sent rolling down the hill, which is 200 yards (180 m) long, and with aslopeof around 50 per cent (26.6 degrees).Competitors then start racing down the hill after the cheese.The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese. The competitors aim to catch the cheese; however, it has around a one-secondhead startand can reach high speeds, enough to knock over and injure a spectator. Multiple races are held during the day, with separate events for men and women.
In the 2013 competition, a foam replica replaced the cheese forsafetyreasons, but a real cheese was restored the following year.
This ceremony originally took place eachWhit Monday, but was later moved to theSpring Bank Holiday. The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found in a message written to the Gloucestertown crierin 1826;even then it was apparent that the event was an old tradition, and it is believed to be at least six hundred years old.
Two possible origins have been proposed for the ceremony. First, it may have evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common.Second, there may bepaganorigins for the custom of rolling objects down the hill. It is thought that bundles of burning brushwood were rolled down the hill to represent the birth of the New Year after winter. Connected with this belief is the traditional scattering of buns, biscuits and sweets at the top of the hill by theMaster of Ceremonies.This is said to be a fertility rite to encourage the fruits of harvest.
In 1982, a team of students from theUniversity of Bristolfilmed the 31 May eventusing film cameras, with one camera overcranked to produceslow motion.
In 1993, sixteen people were injured, four of them seriously, chasing cheeses down the hill with its one-in-three gradient (18.4 degrees).
In 2009, safety concerns were raised after 15,000 spectators arrived, when there was only space for around 5000. These concerns led to the organisers cancelling the 2010 event.Despite the cancellation, around 100 people attended and held an unofficial event.
In 2011, a new 2-day ticketed event was proposed in order to address the safety concerns raised in previous years and to allow the event to continue operating.The proposals were received negatively due to the cost of tickets, and the proposed event was cancelled following the organisers receiving abuse.Despite the cancellation, the event continued unofficially with around 200 people attending.
The event has continued, however without official management or planning alongside the Council Safety Advisory Group.
In 2020 and 2021, the cheese-rolling event was cancelled as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic.The cheese-rolling event returned on Sunday 5 June 2022.ending a two-year absence.
The cheese currently used in the event is 7–9-pound (3–4-kilogram)Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape.Each is protected for the rolling by a wooden casing round the side, and is decorated with ribbons at the start of the race. Formerly, three cheeses were presented by parishioners, and the cheeses were usually rolled by them. A collection is usually made now to purchase them, as well as sweets, and also to provide prize money.
Since 1988, the cheese has been supplied by local cheesemaker Diana Smart and her son Rod from theirChurchamfarm.In May 2013, a police inspector warned the 86-year-old Smart that she could be held responsible for injuries.Chief Superintendent Nigel Avron ofGloucestershire Constabularyalso made these comments: "If you are an organiser in some way or some capacity you could potentially be held liable for something that took place at that event".Diana Smart died in 2021.In recent years, organisers of the event have felt compelled to use a lightweight foam version for safety reasons. In the second race of 2013, Australian Caleb Stalder managed to catch the fake cheese and claim victory despite being some way behind the leaders.
Due to the steepness and uneven surface of Cooper's Hill, there are usually several injuries each year.St John Ambulancehave previously provided first aid cover at the event; however, this stopped in 2012 when the event was no longer being officially managed.
Canadian competitor Delaney Irving won the ladies race in 2023, despite finishing unconscious, and only learning of her victory in the medical enclosure.A total of six competitors were transported to hospital by ambulance treatment following the event.
Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling has been summarised by a previous participant as "twenty young men chasing a cheese off a cliff and tumbling 200 yards to the bottom, where they are scraped up by paramedics and packed off to hospital".
There is no official medical provision on site, leading to concerns from thelocal resilience forumabout the safety of the event.
An annual cheese-rolling event has taken place inChestersince about 2002, to promote the town's food and drink festival. The rolling takes place on the flat down an obstacle course.