Dozens hurt in cheese roll race
A teenager who knocked himself out while chasing a Double Gloucester cheese down a hill was among 25 people hurt in a Cheese Rolling competition.
Chris Anderson, 18, won one of the five races which make up the annual contest, in which dozens of people race down a 1:2 gradient hill after a large cheese.
St John Ambulance workers at the race, on Coopers Hill in Brockworth, said two people were taken to hospital. One spectator was given treatment after being hit by a runaway cheese.
The competition, which is thought to date back hundreds of years, consists of a series of downhill races with the winner of each receiving a seven to eight pound circle of cheese. Runners up get £10 and there is a £5 prize for third place.
People from as far afield as America, Australia, Norway and Sweden travel to the village every year to take part.
Mr Anderson said: "I just ran, fell and hit my head. I feel sore but it was definitely worth it."
Other races were won by Jason Crowther, 24, from Pembrokeshire, west Wales, who took the title for the second year in a row [..].
Mr Crowther said: "I have no real tactic. I just ran and hoped for the best. I'm going to take my cheese to the pub and have a party."
They’ve done this event every year for centuries – no idea exactly why (something to do with securing the public right of way on Cooper's Hill), or indeed how it’s survived the interference of the Health and Safety wallahs.
There’s a video of this year’s race here, and some historic footage here.
3 comments:
Deserving of Quinglish classification, surely?
One spectator was given treatment after being hit by a runaway cheese.
That has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious statements that I have ever read!
Of course even the Pythons couldn't outdo reality. One of their funniest skits was the Twit of the Year competition, where one contestant accidentally ran himself over with his car. Alas, reality matched them.
There are few guilty pleasures to match a really hilarious tragedy...
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