Cheese Rolling in Gloucester

What is cheese rolling?

Now officially an extreme sport, Cheese-rolling has competitors heading to Gloucester from all over the world. The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll is an annual race held at Cooper's Hill, near Brockworth, Gloucester. It attracts people from around the globe who come to chase a Double Gloucester cheese down the 200-yard-long hill.

When did cheese rolling first start?

‘Cheese Rolling on Cooper’s Hill’  painted by Charles March Gere in 1948, from the Museum of Gloucester Collection

The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found from a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826; even then it was apparent the event was an old tradition, and is believed to be at least six hundred years old. 

Why did cheese rolling start?

Some say it was all about claiming grazing rights on the common and land around Cooper's Hill, others believe it could have been a fertility ritual.

What kind of cheese is used in the race?

The cheese used is 3–4-kilogram Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape- the cheese is made by local Cheese maker Mrs Smart. Each is protected for the rolling by a wooden casing round the side, and is decorated with ribbons at the start of the race.

How fast can the cheese roll?

The cheese can reach speeds of up to 70mph, contestants run down the hill - the first runner to the bottom wins and the cheese is the prize.

How steep is the hill?

Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth is near vertical with a 1:2 gradient and is 200 yards long.

Who is Chris Anderson?

Anderson is a from Brockworth and first competed in 2004 at the age of 17, placing second. He won his first race in 2005 and beat the record, held by Stephen Gyde, he has won an impressive 22 races, that’s a lot of cheese!

Who is Florence Early?

Florence, who is from Stroud, first ran the race when she was 17 and is the 4-time champion of the Ladies’ Cheese Rolling race. The Cheese Rolling episode of the documentary We Are The Champions on Netflix follows Florence on her journey to victory for the fourth time before announcing her cheese chasing retirement.

Multiple winners are listed below:

Men's Race

Chris Anderson 22, Steve Gyde 21, Steven Brain 18, Izzy (Islwyn) John 13, Ryan Fairley 5, Hugh Atkinson 5, Aaron Walden 3, Jason Crowther 3, Craig Fairley 4, Craig Carter 2, Craig Brown 2,

Ladies' Race

Flo Early 4 (2008, 2016, 2018, 2019), Rosemary Cooke 3 (1953, 1955, 1956), Amanda Turner 3 (1981, 1982, 1983), Dionne Carter 3 (2004, 2005, 2006), Lucy Townsend 3 (2012, 2013, 2014), Kirsty Shepherd 2 (2000, 2002), Keavy Morgan 2 (2015, 2017).