From the top of a very steep hill on the outskirts of the sleepy Gloucestershire village of Brockworth…
… one wheel of Double Gloucester – a traditional hard cheese from the region – is given over to the mercy of gravity.
Brave and reckless types from near and far…
… are invited to catch it while it bounds down the hill at speeds of up to 70mph.
Which no one ever does – no matter how streamlined their outfit is…
To the victor – the person who reaches the bottom of Cooper’s Hill first – goes the cheese!
While for the unfortunate, a trip to the medical tent awaits!
Every year hundreds of people flock to Cooper’s Hill deep in the British countryside to be a part of the historic Cheese-Rolling festival.
Always scheduled on the late Spring Bank Holiday, this year’s running – or should we say falling – takes place on Monday (May 27).
No one is quite sure of the origins of this sublime and ridiculous event. But it’s said local folk have been risking life and limb (injuries ranging from sprained ankles to broken bones are outrageously common) in pursuit of cheese for more than two centuries.
What we do know is it’s undoubtedly one of the unique festivals on the planet.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Images: Featured image – Hauggen; 2 – Warwick University Real Ale Society; 3 – IanHaskins; 4 – brizzle born and bred; 5 – Hauggen; 6 and 7 – ninjawil; 8 – mike warren; 9 – IanHaskins)
