For hundreds of years the Gloucestershire
Cheese Rolling has been taking place on a steep hillside in the
English countryside.
Initially held at midsummer, the event now takes place on May
bank holiday Monday.
A guest roller starts the race by releasing a 7-8lb round of cheese
down a treacherous slope.
Competitors then hurl themselves down the slope after the cheese.
The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill (usually after
numerous tumbles) wins the cheese.
There are a number of races every year including a ladies race
that make this event a great day out.
Package includes
Return Charter Coach Transport
Competitors T-Shirt
Tour Leading Services of 2004 Cheese Rolling Champion
Post Race Day Party in London
Itinerary
Monday 30th May 2005
Departure from Eastbourne Terrace at Paddington is 8.30am for
the 2 hour drive to the Gloucestershire Cotswold's.
Upon arrival we'll get kitted out in our race shirts and limber
up for the downhill frenzy.
The action starts at midday and usually lasts for around three
hours.
After the conclusion of the final race we'll load up the coaches
and return to sunny London we we have a huge post race party night
lined up.
Expected arrival back in London is 6.00pm.
There are 4 downhill races
- one is for ladies.
At the top of the hill, competitors (any number from 2 to a maximum
of about 20) sit in a line and wait.
The Master of Ceremonies escorts an invited guest to the start
line and helps him (or her) to sit on the precipitous slope, holding
a 7-8lb Double Gloucester cheese.
At the command (given by the M.C.) of...
'ONE to be ready!'
'TWO to be steady!'
'THREE to prepare!'...
...the guest 'roller' releases the cheese, which rolls down the
hill,
The M.C. continues...
...'and FOUR to be off!'
At this point the competitors hurl themselves down the slope after
the cheese.
The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill wins the cheese.
Those who come second and third receive a small cash prize.
The slope has a gradient that is in places 1-in-2 and in others
1-in-1, its surface is very rough and uneven and it is almost
impossible to remain on foot for the descent.
Many minor injuries are incurred, but competitors (particularly
the successful ones) enter again year after year.
There are 4 downhill races held at twenty-minute intervals, one
of which is a ladies race.
Between the downhill races there are also uphill races, one for
boys of 12 years and under, one for girls and an open race.
Obviously no cheeses are rolled, but a small cheese is the first
prize for the winner of each race.
At the end of the proceedings, sweets are scattered on the hill
for a children's 'scramble'.
In the past, buns, biscuits and cake have been used.
During the day, there is a box-collection among the public in
aid of the year's nominated charity.
REAL CHEESES ARE USED!
During the rationing period of 1941-1954 a wooden substitute was
used, this had a small niche that contained a token piece of cheese.
We can all relate to the sensation
of feasting on delicious golden strips of ripe Double Gloucester,
but lunging at full pelt down a death-trap of a Gloucestershire
hill whilst endeavouring to catch a whole cartwheel of this dairy
delicacy is probably less familiar.
Cooper's Hill in Brockworth is the place to catch the cheese-chasing
action.
The event has proved so dangerous in recent years that the police
have occasionally resorted to banning it.
Those there to witness this audacious act - a bunch of fully-grown
men chasing a seven pound cheese down a hill - will realise that
a police ban does nothing in the way of deterring them.
It is not easy to convince
someone how dangerous cheese rolling can be.
So here are some hardcore facts.
In 1997 the Cooper's Hill event saw some 18 injuries.
Even the several thousand strong crowd weren't exempt.
According to a CNN report, one man who stood up whilst trying
to dodge the cheese was hit on the head and tumbled some 100 feet,
ending the day in hospital.
Then there were those who were actually involved in the race,
including the winner, postman Craig Carter.
He suffered a broken arm.
Despite the injury Carter seemed to be content.
He had broken the other arm when he won three years before.
So if you're at all intrigued by the idea of a celebration of
cheese, a broken ankle or the sight of the British behaving as
peculiarly as their mad cows, you know where to go....
Now for the Cheese Rolling
- it was a very fun day!!
I was up at 5.30am to get myself ready tho
I made a huge chicken salad for lunch and left the house at 6.15am
to take the two buses to get myself to Paddington Station where
I was meeting Tammie and the tour group at 7.00am
We got a coffee and went and waited
Tammie and I were on Bus One which was good because we got to
go straight away - there were six buses - 300 people in total
Our guide was called Peter and he seemed nice - an Aussie
They had cartons of beer and girly drinks which they were selling
and people were cracking beers at 8.00am!!
Not me - I was slightly concerned about the toilet facilities
(or lack of them!!) so decided to make sure that I didn't need
to go too often
The drive up through the country was nice and despite the fact
that it had rained a bit while waiting for the buses it seemed
like we were going to get a reasonable day
The driver got lost twice but we got there in time
We stopped once at a road house and there were lots of coaches
- it turned out that there was another big football match on in
Cardiff and they were all on their way there - all decked out
in their team strips and decorated buses - they were on the grog
too so it was going to be a long day all round!!
Tanya in her 'official shirt'---------
TammieWe got off the bus and made our way through the fields avoiding cow pats where possible!!
Some of the spectators (two photos)There was so many people - they estimated four thousand
Tanya's view of The Hill
(two photos)We didn't get very near the hill and in fact couldn't see the bottom but had a great view of the top and a seat - which was handy as we discovered later
Tammie, Tanya
- and two other "T's"!!!Tammie and I (Tanya) had made friends with two girls from the bus Tarni and Tania - we had a giggle over that - and sat and watched the four races
The men's race --- and the ladies'
race 
I can't believe the way that people hurl themselves down that hill - it is so steep!!
Ambulances were
required!!!We also had to get out of the
way twice to let ambulances through - no serious injuries but
the friend of some girls set up next to us broke her wrist.
Can you imagine - that would be the end of my time here - no work,
no money and therefore no holiday so it would be home for Mum
to look after me!
After all the races we went up the hill to get a better look -
plus it was quite fun watching all the idiots that had been watching
come down after it all finished
Tanya--and--Tammie 
on The Hill!!!The side of the hill was just
as slippery as the hill - the top soil kept moving and I could
not have stood there for two hours - my ankles would have been
wrecked.
I nearly lost it about four times and we only went a third of
the way up!
After that we went back to the carpark where the tour group had
set up their tent and were selling more beers
It was lovely and I we ate lunch and snoozed in the sun for an
hour or so to wait for the rest of the group to catch up
We were told we would be leaving at 4.00pm so people were wandering
and sleeping and eating, and generally just enyoying being outside
Dion, who won the
Ladies' Race (two photos)The tour guide on Bus Five
was a girl called Dion
She had won the ladies race last year and was out to defend her
crown, and, which I am sure you have seen, she did
She came back and we gave her a round of applause and took lots
of photos
The girl that she beat for the cheese ended up breaking her wrist
and smashing up her face!
Then it was back on the bus home
One guy doing it
his way!!!Oh - and I did see the guy
in the g-string - he will have a bit of trouble sitting down today,
let alone walking!
Tanya