Chaos and injury are as much a part of cheese rolling tradition as the double Gloucester being chased but emergency services are reportedly coming under strain.
A 19-year-old Canadian woman was reportedly knocked unconscious during the melée on Monday as she won an annual competition at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire. Other reported injuries included broken ankles, concussion, a broken leg and a suspected seizure.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio after winning her cheese, Delaney Irving said: “I remember hitting my head, I remember it hurting and then I remember waking up in a tent.”
Ms Irving is now enjoying her 3kg double Gloucester after winning the charge down the 180-metre hill. She was in a mood to laugh about the incident but the Tewkesbury Borough Safety Group has said it will stop co-organising the event until a plan is in place.
🇨🇦 Speaking to us afterwards, Delaney Irving confirmed she was okay and told us she was heading off to hospital as a precaution #cheeserolling pic.twitter.com/8yBbzXsYDl
— Greatest Hits Radio Gloucester (@GHRGloucester) May 29, 2023
A statement from the group added: “Double-crewed ambulances and rapid response vehicles needed a police escort to gain access to the site, in order to clear a path through the crowds.
"This put a strain on the resources of both Gloucestershire Constabulary and South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for a considerable time.”
However, the group is powerless to stop cheese rolling from going ahead and the tradition is set to continue. These are the basics to get you up to speed.
What is cheese rolling?
Hundreds gather at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester to chase the 3kg round cheese as it is launched down the 180-metre slope. The winner is the first person down the hill and their prize is the cheese itself. It has grown in fame and popularity with people now travelling from all over the world to take part.
When did cheese rolling races begin?
The earliest date on record is 1837, according to cheeseprofessor.com, although some estimates trace it back to Roman times. The origins are possibly pagan.
Tradition states that cheese rolling will always take place on Whit Monday, the final Monday of May – which is usually spring bank holiday.
What are the rules of cheese rolling?
To start, a nine-pound wheel of cheese is rolled down a hill, shortly folllowed by the players.
Catching the cheese is almost impossible as it travels at speeds of up to 70mph down the hillside. Instead the winner of the cheese is usually the first across a finishing line.
There is a men’s and women’s competition, and anybody can sign up.
Staying on one’s feet is also easier said than done but while injuries are common, there has never been a fatality. It is considered by some to be an extreme sport.
