For the uninitiated, the annual event settles the age-old rivalry of man against dairy produce as brave/foolhardy (delete as appropriate) competitors chase a locally made Double Gloucester cheese down the steep slopes of Cooper’s Hill.
The hill boasts a gradient of 1 in 2 (and 1 in 1 in certain areas) and this degree of steepness, combined with the slope’s uneven surface, ensures that sprained ankles, broken bones and concussions are expected. The cheese itself can reach speeds of up to 70 mph and is impossible for racers to catch. However, the competitor that reaches the finishing line at the foot of the hill first receives it as their winner’s prize.
It’s known that the Brockworth Cheese Rolling tradition dates back several hundred years but suggestions abound that the sport was originally started by the Romans or the Ancient Britons. The remains of an Ancient Britons' fort stand at the top of Cooper’s Hill while the Romans are known to have inhabited the area.
Race organisers are expecting up to 4,000 spectators for Monday’s races. While no celebrity competitors are confirmed at this time, comedian Vic Reeves set a precedent in 2006 by not only entering a race but competing in a tweed suit. Keep your eyes peeled for more surreal antics when the dangerous and chaotic event takes place on bank holiday Monday.