Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake

The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event held on the Spring Bank Holiday at Cooper's Hill, in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England. Multiple races are held during the day, with separate events for men and women. Participants in the downhill races must be over the age of 10.

In the 2013 competition, a foam replica replaced the cheese for safety reasons, but a real cheese wheel was restored the following year.

History

thumb|A view down [[Brockworth, Gloucestershire#Cooper's Hill|Cooper's Hill, from the start point of the race to the finish, taken on 3 October 2005.]]

The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found in a message written to the Gloucester town crier, published in Berrow's Worcester Journal on 9 June 1836. Despite this, the tradition is believed to be ever older. The BBC states that there are "suggestions it began 10 years earlier" than the 1836 date. The BBC stated in 2025 that "theories suggest it may have started at least 600 years ago". Dorothy Gladys Spicer stated in the 1954 book "Yearbook of English Festivals" that the tradition had "been famous for at least five hundred years."

The event previously took place each Whit Monday, According to Jean Jefferies, who has written a book about, and set up the original website for, the event:

Two possible origins have been proposed for the ceremony. First, it may have evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common. Second, there may be pagan origins for the custom of rolling objects down the hill. It is thought that bundles of burning brushwood were rolled down the hill to represent the birth of the New Year after winter. Connected with this belief is the traditional scattering of buns, biscuits and sweets at the top of the hill by the Master of Ceremonies. This is said to be a fertility rite to encourage the fruits of harvest.

thumb|A race on 27 May 2013

In 1993, sixteen people were injured, four of them seriously, during the event. Despite the cancellation, around 100 people attended and held an unofficial event.

In 2011, a new 2-day ticketed event was proposed in order to address the safety concerns raised in previous years and to allow the event to continue operating. The proposals were received negatively due to the cost of tickets, and the proposed event was cancelled following the organisers receiving abuse. Despite the cancellation, the event continued unofficially with around 200 people attending. The event has continued without official management or planning alongside the Council Safety Advisory Group.

In 2020 and 2021, the event was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned on Sunday 5 June 2022, ending a two-year absence.

Cheese

thumb|Photo from 2006 or earlier of [[master of ceremonies Rob Seex, holding a Double Gloucester cheese.]]

The cheese currently used in the event is Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape. Each is protected for the rolling by a wooden casing round the side, and it is decorated with ribbons at the start of the race. Formerly, three cheeses were presented by parishioners, and the cheeses were usually rolled by them. A collection is usually made now to purchase them, as well as sweets, and also to provide prize money. In May 2013, a police inspector warned all of those involved in planning the event, including the 86-year-old cheesemaker, that they could be held responsible for any injuries. Diana Smart died in 2021.

In 2013, organisers of the event switched to a lightweight foam version of the cheese for safety reasons. In 2014, the organisers returned to using real cheese. St John Ambulance have previously provided first aid cover at the event; however, this stopped in 2012 when the event was no longer being officially managed. The lack of official medical provision on site has led to concerns from the local resilience forum about the safety of the event.

Canadian competitor Delaney Irving won the ladies' race in 2023, despite finishing unconscious, and only learning of her victory in the medical enclosure. Six competitors were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment following the event.

| 1949

| Roy Mitchell (3)

| J. Binder

| Betty Hunt

| Bernard Morgan (1)

| 1986

| Steven Brain (2)

| Steven Brain (3)

| Leticia Burns (2)

| Stephen Gyde (14)

| 1996

| Steven Brain (10)

| Harry Hancy

| Marie Andow

| John Shelton

| 1998

| Peter Astman

| Amelia Hardwick

| Two races cancelled for safety due to 33 injuries the previous year

| 1999

| Steven Brain (13)

| Steven Brain (14)

| Helen Thorpe

| Steven Brain (15)

| 2000

| Steven Brain (16)

| Steven Brain (17)

| Kirby Shepherd

| Craig Brown (1)

| 2001

| Colspan=10

| 2002

| Simon Fowler

| Craig Brown (2)

| Saskia Thomas

| Alan Barth

|Event took place on Tuesday due to Queen's Jubilee celebrations

| 2003

| Colspan=10

| rowspan="4" | 2004

| rowspan="4" | Padam Shreer

| rowspan="4" | Marc Ellis

| rowspan="4" | Dionne Carter (1)

| rowspan="4" | Aaron Walden (1)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Padam Shreer becomes the first winner from Asia. Marc Ellis and Dionne Carter become the first winners from Oceania

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2005

| rowspan="4" | Jason Crowther (1)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (1)

| rowspan="4" | Dionne Carter (2)

| rowspan="4" | Aaron Walden (2)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" | Adam Dunsford wins "uphill open race".

|Chris Calver-Jones

|Adam Dunsford

|Girls'

|Women's

|Hannah Jones

| rowspan="4" | 2006

| rowspan="4" | Jason Crowther (2)

| rowspan="4" | Craig Fairley (1)

| rowspan="4" | Dionne Carter (3)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (2)

| rowspan="4" | Andrew Brewin

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Dionne Carter ties the women's record of 3 wins.

|Josh Prike

|Julian Gray

|Girls'

|Women's

|Kelley Beckett

|Ruth Bradbrook

| rowspan="4" | 2007

| rowspan="4" | Jason Crowther (3)

| rowspan="4" | Aaron Walden (3)

| rowspan="4" | Jemima Bullock

| rowspan="4" | Alan Morris

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (3)

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2008

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (4)

| rowspan="4" | Peter Mackenzie-Shaw

| rowspan="4" | Flo Early (1)

| rowspan="4" | Craig Fairley (2)

| rowspan="4" | Wade Sansom

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2009

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (5)

| rowspan="4" | Scott Bevan

| rowspan="4" | Michelle Kokiri-Gisbon

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (6)

| rowspan="4" | Josh Geitz

| Boys'

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Jason Baugh

|Toby Payton

|Girls'

|Women's

|Maddie Morris

|Jessica Ledger

| rowspan="4" | 2010

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (7)

| rowspan="4" | Craig Fairley (3)

| rowspan="4" | Tanya Silverman

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (8)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2011

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (9)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (10)

| rowspan="4" | Jo Guest

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (11)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2012

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (12)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (13)

| rowspan="4" | Lucy Townsend (1)

| rowspan="4" | Craig Fairley (4)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2013

| rowspan="4" | Kenny Rackers

| rowspan="4" | Keleb Stalder

| rowspan="4" | Lucy Townsend (2)

| rowspan="4" | Ryan Fairley (1)

| rowspan="4" | Tomoaki Tanaka

| Boys'

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Kenny Rackers becomes the first winner from North America.

|Kenny Rackers

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2014

| rowspan="4" | Joshua Shepherd (1)

| rowspan="4" | Ryan Fairley (2)

| rowspan="4" | Lucy Townsend (3)

| rowspan="4" | Sheldon Ronald

| rowspan="4" |

| Boys'

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="3" |Lucy Townsend ties the women's record of 3 wins. Sam Parrant wins "mixed, open uphill" race. Kaspar Wickens-Shaw wins "boys 14 and under" uphill race. Mollie D’Arcy Rice wins "girls 14 and under" race.

|Kaspar Wickens-Shaw (1)

|Sam Parrant

|Girls'

|Women's

|Mollie D’Arcy Rice

| rowspan="4" | 2015

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (14)

| rowspan="4" | Ryan Fairley (3)

| rowspan="4" | Keavy Morgan (1)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (15)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |.

| rowspan="4" | 2016

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (16)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (17)

| rowspan="4" | Flo Early (2)

| rowspan="4" | Ryan Fairley (4)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |

|Girls'

|Women's

| rowspan="4" | 2017

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (18)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (19)

| rowspan="4" | Keavy Morgan (2)

| rowspan="4" | Chris Anderson (20)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

|Girls'

|Women's

|Kacie Anderson (2)

| rowspan="4" |2018

| rowspan="4" |Chris Anderson (21)

| rowspan="4" |Christopher Parperis

| rowspan="4" |Flo Early (3)

| rowspan="4" |Chris Anderson (22)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Chris Anderson sets all-time record of 22 wins

Flo Early ties the women's record of 3 wins

|Girls'

|Women's

|Leilani Ryder (1)

|Amy Hill

| rowspan="4" |2019

| rowspan="4" |Max McDougall

| rowspan="4" |Ryan Fairley (5)

| rowspan="4" |Flo Early (4)

| rowspan="4" |Mark Kit

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Flo Early sets a new women's record of 4 wins

|Jacob Perkins

|Girls'

|Women's

|Leilani Ryder (2)

|Millie Elliot

| 2020

| Colspan=10

| 2021

| Colspan=10

| rowspan="4" |2022

| rowspan="4" |Chris Anderson (23)

| rowspan="4" |Jamie Evans

| rowspan="4" |Abby Lampe (1)

| rowspan="4" |Robbe Gabriels <br /> / Amr El Shourbagy (joint winners)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Chris Anderson retires with an all-time record of 23 wins Robbe Gabriels becomes the first winner from Continental Europe. Amr El Shourbagy becomes the first winner from Africa.

|Alfie Townsend (1)

|Girls'

|Women's

|Leilani Ryder (3)

| rowspan="4" |2023

| rowspan="4" |Matt Crolla

| rowspan="4" |Cooper Cummings

| rowspan="4" |Delaney Irving

| rowspan="4" |Ryoya Minami

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Cooper Cummings sets record for fastest race time at 13 seconds

|Riley Parker

|Rocco Cove

|Elliot

|Girls'

|Women's

|Evie

|Leilani Ryder (4)

|Megan

| rowspan="4" |2024

| rowspan="4" |Tom Kopke (1)

| rowspan="4" |Dylan Twiss

| rowspan="4" |Abby Lampe (2)

| rowspan="4" |Joshua Shepherd (2)

| rowspan="4" |

|Boys'

|Men's

| rowspan="4" |Tom Kopke, known online as Tooleko, is the first person from Germany to win.

|Louie Baker (1)

|Liam Daunter

|Girls'

|Women's

|Orion Ryder

|Leilani Ryder (5)

| rowspan="4" |2025

| rowspan="4" |Tom Kopke (2)

| rowspan="4" |Byron Smith

|Louie Baker (2)

| rowspan="4" |Niels Wennemars

| rowspan="4" |Alix Heugas

|Dotty

| 21

| 1976–1991

| 17

| 1984–2000

| 12

| 1957–1964

thumb|The Cheese Rollers Pub & Restaurant, Shurdington, 2019

Early 1970s: The New Inn pub was renamed 'The Cheese Rollers Bar & Restaurant' in the early 1970s.

2006: Comedian Bridget Christie performed a show about cheese rolling at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, inspired by seeing the Cooper's Hill event as a child.

2008: Cheese rolling was featured in the first episode of the Five television series Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure, broadcast on 13 August 2008, and was described as "the grandaddy of weird sports" by presenters Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness. The contest was also featured in the German reality show Joko gegen Klaas – Das Duell um die Welt, in which former German footballer Thorsten Legat was expected to participate but ultimately refused to do so.

2019: Let's Roll is a short film directed by Chris Thomas about a teenage girl, Antonia (Amy Bowden), attempting to emulate her brother's success in cheese rolling. The film was screened at the BAFTA-qualifying Norwich and Edinburgh film festivals.

2019: Royal Mail issued a collectible stamp edition titled UK Weird and Wonderful Customs, which included Bog snorkelling, the World Gurning Championship, Up Helly Aa, Burning the Clocks, the Obby 'Oss festival, Samhain Celtic festival (Halloween), the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, and cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill.

2020: Netflix released the documentary series We Are the Champions, which covered six unusual events and competitions from around the world, beginning with cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill. The episode follows Flo Early in her preparations for the 2019 event and her attempt to win the women's race for the fourth time.

2021: The game Animal Crossing: New Horizons featured a special item called Double Gloucester cheese, available only from 22 to 31 May, coinciding with the traditional period of the event.

2023: The Longest Johns and El Pony Pisador released the joint album The Longest Pony, which included "Wheels of Glory" as the opening track. This later led to the bands bringing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese on their February 2025 Longest Pony tour.

2025: A multiplayer PC game titled Cheese Rolling was released on Steam. Players control ragdoll medieval characters competing to catch a cheese wheel rolling down various steep slopes loosely modelled after Cooper's Hill. It was released on 20 August 2025 by developer The Interviewed.

Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake

History

Cheese

See also

Notes

References

External links