Cheese rolling: The world’s weirdest Sport?

Every spring, thousands of people from far and wide gather at Cooper’s Hill, in Gloucester, UK, to witness the weird and wonderful event that is cheese rolling.

While there are those that get their kicks from jumping out of a plane, others from submerging themselves in an ice bath, and some from going all-in in a game of roulette, these cheese-rolling adrenaline junkies get their thrills from throwing themselves down a treacherous incline risking life and limb, all in the name of cheese!

The objective is simple – competitors chase a three-to-four-kilogram wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down an incredibly steep hill. The first person across the finish line is crowned the cheese champion, and the cheese is their prize. The hard cheese, made by local cheese maker Mrs. Smart, is protected by wooden casing and decorated with ribbons at the start of the race.

In the past you had to catch the cheese to win, but with its one second head start and the cheese reaching speeds of up to 110 km an hour, this feat is not only near impossible, but also incredibly dangerous. Unsurprisingly, many injuries have been sustained while chasing the elusive wheel, from broken legs to dislocated shoulders. Health and safety led to the official competition being canceled in 2010, but rebel cheese rollers have been staging their own unofficial events ever since.

There are four races in total – three for men and one for women – with a maximum of 14 competitors for each race. However, some years have seen up to 40 people in one heat. The Masters of the Ceremony kick off the event by shouting, ”One to be ready, two to be steady, three to prepare (this is when the cheese is released) and four to be off.” The competitors then launch themselves down the hill with reckless abandon.

While there is written evidence dating back to the 1820s relating to the origins of this unusual sport, some believe its roots can be traced back as far as Roman times. One theory is that it was used for maintaining grazing rights on the land, while another suggests the event is of pagan origin, where people would throw bundles of burning brushwood down Coopers Hill as a way of celebrating the birth of the New Year after winter ends. Whatever the origin, this event is the collective heart of the town, and has been there for as long as the locals can remember. Even during World War II rationing, when the wheel was made of wood, the show went on.

Although not for the faint-hearted, anyone can participate in this barmy sport. The contestants are mostly locals from the neighbouring villages, but people from all over the world have taken part. Winners have been crowned from New Zealand, Australia, the US and Nepal.

One man, Chris Anderson, from the local area of Brockworth at the foot of the famous hill, has won the event an impressive 23 times, holding the record for number of wins. For the women, local Stroud girl Florence Early holds the record, winning the race four times. Before announcing her cheese chasing retirement, Early starred in a Netflix documentary about the event called We Are The Champions.

Participation in the cheese challenge requires no paperwork or special criteria, participants just show up at Cooper’s Hill on the Spring Bank Holiday and make their presence known to the organizers. For those who require a bit of ‘Dutch courage’, a nearby pub called The Cheese Rollers (aptly named after the event) provides local ale before the race, and another to celebrate or commiserate afterwards.