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, at Brockworth near Gloucester, England.<ref name="BBC2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Participants race down the Template:Convert long hill chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. It is uncertain when the tradition first began, and is possibly much older than its earliest known written attestation in 1826.<ref name="gere" /> The event has a long tradition, held by the people of the village, but now people from a wide range of countries take part in the competition as well. The Guardian in 2013 called it a "world-famous event," with winners coming from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.<ref name="Gu130527">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Glo2022" />

The event is called Cheese-Rolling and Wake because it includes the cheese rolling race itself, and the festive gathering that follows. The word "wake" can mean an annual festival and holiday, originally one held in a rural parish on the feast day of the patron saint of the church. Brockworth has St George's Church, and the feast day of St George is 23 April.

Format

From the top of the hill, a Template:Convert round of Double Gloucester cheese is sent rolling down the hill, which is Template:Convert long, and with a slope of around 50 percent (26.6 degrees).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Competitors then start racing down the hill after the cheese.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /> The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese. The competitors aim to catch the cheese; however, it has around a one-second head start and can reach high speeds, enough to knock over and injure a spectator. Multiple races are held during the day, with separate events for men and women.

There are seven races during the event – four downhill races (three men's, one women's) and three uphill races (two children's, one mixed adults).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the 2013 competition, a foam replica replaced the cheese for safety reasons, but a real cheese was restored the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

History

File:CheeseRolling.jpg

A race on 27 May 2013

The event originally took place each Whit Monday, but was later moved to the Spring Bank Holiday. The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found in a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826;<ref name="gere" /> even then it was apparent that the event was an old tradition, and it is believed to be at least six hundred years old.<ref name="Spicer">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Two possible origins have been proposed for the ceremony. First, it may have evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common.<ref name="Spicer" /><ref name="Anon 2012">Anon. "Cheese Rolling on Coopers Hill, Exhibition", Gloucester City and Folk Museums, Gloucester, 14 July 2012.</ref> 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.<ref name="capture1997to2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This is said to be a fertility rite to encourage the fruits of harvest.<ref name="Anon 2012" />

In 1982, a team of students from the University of Bristol filmed the 31 May event using film cameras, with one camera overcranked to produce slow motion.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref name="hartzell">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1993, sixteen people were injured, four of them seriously, during the event.<ref name="Anon 2012" /> In 2009, safety concerns were raised after 15,000 spectators arrived, when there was only space for around 5,000. These concerns led to the organisers cancelling the 2010 event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the cancellation, around 100 people attended and held an unofficial event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The proposals were received negatively due to the cost of tickets, and the proposed event was cancelled following the organisers receiving abuse.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the cancellation, the event continued unofficially with around 200 people attending.<ref name="BBC 2011 cancellation">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It returned on Sunday 5 June 2022, ending a two-year absence.<ref name="back2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Glo2020" />Template:Efn

Cheese

File:CheeseMaster (cropped).jpg

Undated photo of the master of ceremonies holding the cheese

The cheese currently used in the event is Template:Convert Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Anon 2012" />

Since 1988, the cheese has been supplied by local cheesemaker Diana Smart and her son Rod from their Churcham farm.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Facts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2013, a police inspector warned the 86-year-old Smart that she could be held responsible for injuries.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /> Chief Superintendent Nigel Avron of Gloucestershire Constabulary also made these comments: "If you are an organiser in some way or some capacity you could potentially be held liable for something that took place at that event".<ref name="BBC, 2013">Template:Cite news</ref> Diana Smart died in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2013, organisers of the event felt compelled to use a lightweight foam version for safety reasons.<ref name="b929">Template:Cite news</ref> In the second race of 2013, Australian Caleb Stalder managed to catch the fake cheese and claim victory despite being some way behind the leaders.<ref name="cheese2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, the organisers returned to using real cheeses.<ref name="b929" />

Injuries

Due to the steepness and uneven surface of Cooper's Hill, there are usually several injuries each year.<ref name="bbc2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The lack of official medical provision on site has led to concerns from the local resilience forum about the safety of the event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Canadian competitor Delaney Irving won the ladies' race in 2023, despite finishing unconscious, and only learning of her victory in the medical enclosure.<ref name="ko">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Six competitors were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment following the event.<ref name="bbc2023" />

Results

Winners of the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling & Wake

Year	Race 1 (men's downhill)	Race 2 (men's downhill)	Race 3 (women's downhill)	Race 4 (men's downhill)	Race 5 (men's downhill)	Notes/Reference
1948	Roy Mitchell	Roy Mitchell	Jean Simpson	M.J.Russell		<ref name="J.Jefferies">Template:Cite book</ref>
1949	Roy Mitchell	J.Binder	Betty Hunt	Bernard Morgan		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1950	T.Brewster	H.Ireland	Miss.M.E.Light	Ken Davis	Bernard Morgan	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1951	Tom Holliday	M.C.Pinchin	Jean MacDonald	J.Bailey		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1952	Tom Holliday	Hugh Atkinson	Hilary Cooke	no race		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1953	Tom Holliday	Ronald Ray	Rosemary Cooke	no race		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1954	Michael Price	Eric Avent	Elke Ellaway	Hugh Atkinson		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1955	Michael Price	Hugh Atkinson	Rosemary Cooke	Roy Holliday		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1956	Michael Price	Hugh Atkinson	Rosemary Cooke	Glyn Jenkins		Rosemary Cooke sets women's record of 3 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1957	Izzy John	Izzy John	June Wheeler	Hugh Atkinson	Frank Faulkner	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1958	Izzy John	Izzy John	unknown	Clive walker	Izzy John	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1959	Izzy John *	Izzy John *	Mary Bancroft	unknown		* unconfirmed<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1960	Izzy John	Stanley Wilson-Copp	Sheenan McBride	Raymond Beard		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1961	Izzy John	Izzy John	no race	Paul Quarry	Paul Quarry	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1962	Paul Quarry	Paul Quarry	no race	Roger Windo	Izzy John	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1963	Roger Windo	Roger Windo	Pat Harding	Clive Whittaker		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1964	Clive Whittaker	Roger Windo	Julie Tiffany	Izzy John		Izzy John sets the record with unconfirmed 12 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1965	Raymond Giles	Michael Davis	Janet Ballinger	Clive Whittaker		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1966	Raymond Giles	Raymond Giles	Janet Beesley	Michael Giles		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1967	R.A.Copley	Eric Huckins	Diane Bowers	George Duckett		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1968	Hugh Oxenham	Eric Huckins	Barbara Bayne	Michael Giles		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1969	Richard Giles	Richard Giles	Diane Bowers	Joe Johnson		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1970	Richard Giles	Richard Giles	Lynda Burnell	Peter Davis		<ref name="J.Jefferies" /> Gloucestershire Echo wrongly reported her name as Lynda Burnett
1971	Steve Lott	Peter Davis	Lynda Burnell	Gordon Graham		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1972	Steve Lott	Christopher Woodhouse	Deborah Harwood	John Hendzell	Steve Lott	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1973	Christopher Woodhouse	Alan Thorpe	Deborah Harwood	Patrick Hendzell		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1974	Stephen Giles	Patrick Hendzell	Susan Keavy	Christopher Woodhouse		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1975	Paul Chandler	Patrick Hendzell	Joanna Evans	Paul Brammer		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1976	George Duckett	Stephen Gyde	Joanna Evans	Paul Williams		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1977	Tony Hendzell	David Lawlor	Megan Morris	Rory Martin		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1978	Tony Hendzell	John Lowe	Janice McGrory	Stephen Gyde		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1979	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Candice Phillips	Tony Hendzell		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1980	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Mandy Day	Stephen Gyde		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1981	Kevin Gyde	Kevin Gyde	Amanda Turner	Andy Fuller		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1982	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Amanda Turner	Kevin Gyde		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1983	Colin Hill	Stephen Gyde	Amanda Turner	'Digger' Gardener		Amanda Turner ties the women's record of 3 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1984	Stephen Gyde	Steven Brain	Claudia Dart	Ian Campbell		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1985	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Leticia Burns	Costas Logothetis		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Steven Brain	Steven Brain	Leticia Burns	Stephen Gyde		<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="capture2007" />
1987	Steven Brain	Stephen Gyde	Rebecca Haines	Steven Brain		<ref name="capture2007" />
1988	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Rebecca Haines	Steven Brain		<ref name="capture2007" />
1989	Paul Andres	Lawrence Farlow	Kathleen Underwood	Julian Pritchard		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1990	Steven Brain	Stephen Gyde	Jacqueline McGinn	Steven Brain		<ref name="capture2007" />
1991	Stephen Gyde	Stephen Gyde	Christie Sweeney	Stephen Gyde		Stephen Gyde retires with an all-time record of 21 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="capture2007" />
1992	Terry Sawczuk	Stuart Heggs		Rob Preece	Star Royles	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1993	Rob Preece	Rob Preece		Jamie Barnes	Andrew Deveson	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1994	Rob Preece	Andrew Deveson		Star Royles	Craig Carter	<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1995	Stephen Brain	Jonathan Smith	Claire Carter	Darren Yates		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Steven Brain	Harry Hancy	Marie Andow	John Shelton		<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1997	Steven Brain	Steven Brain	Tina Rimmer	Craig Carter		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="cnn1997">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998	Peter Astman Template:Flagicon		Amelia Hardwick Template:Flagicon			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Steven Brain (14) Template:Flagicon	Steven Brain (15) Template:Flagicon	Helen Thorpe Template:Flagicon	Steven Brain (16) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000	Steven Brain (17) Template:Flagicon	Steven Brain (18) Template:Flagicon	Kirby Shepherd Template:Flagicon	Craig Brown (1) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Colspan=6 Template:N/a
2002	Simon Fowler Template:Flagicon	Craig Brown (2) Template:Flagicon	Saskia Thomas Template:Flagicon	Jack Williams Template:Flagicon		Event took place on Tuesday due to Queen's Jubilee celebrations<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="cheese2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Colspan=6 Template:N/a
2004	Padam Shreer Template:Flagicon	Marc Ellis Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (1) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (1) Template:Flagicon		Padam Shreer becomes the first winner from Asia. Marc Ellis and Dionne Carter become the first winners from Oceania<ref name="NZ">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="cheese2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2005	Jason Crowther (1) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (1) Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (2) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (2) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	Jason Crowther (2) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (1) Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (3) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (2) Template:Flagicon	Andrew Brewin Template:Flagicon Template:Efn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2007	Jason Crowther (3) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (3) Template:Flagicon	Jemima Bullock Template:Flagicon	Alan Morris Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (3) Template:Flagicon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	Chris Anderson (4) Template:Flagicon	Peter Mackenzie-Shaw Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (1) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (2) Template:Flagicon	Wade Sansom Template:Flagicon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	Chris Anderson (5) Template:Flagicon	Scott Bevan Template:Flagicon	Michelle Kokiri-Gisbon Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (6) Template:Flagicon	Josh Geitz Template:Flagicon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	Chris Anderson (7) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (3) Template:Flagicon	Tanya Silverman Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (8) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011	Chris Anderson (9) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (10) Template:Flagicon	Jo Guest Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (11) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	Chris Anderson (12) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (13) Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (1) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (4) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013	Kenny Rackers Template:Flagicon	Keleb Stalder Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (2) Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (1) Template:Flagicon	Tomoaki Tanaka Template:Flagicon	Kenny Rackers becomes the first winner from North America<ref name="cheese2013" /><ref name="kenny">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Gu130527" />
2014	Joshua Shepherd Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (2) Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (3) Template:Flagicon	Sheldon Ronald Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IBT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2015	Chris Anderson (14) Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (3) Template:Flagicon	Keavy Morgan (1) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (15) Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016	Chris Anderson (16) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (17) Template:Flagicon	Flo Early Template:Flagicon (2)	Ryan Fairley (4) Template:Flagicon<ref name="Ryan2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="standard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2017	Chris Anderson (18) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (19) Template:Flagicon	Keavy Morgan (2) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (20) Template:Flagicon		<ref name="chris22">Template:Cite news</ref>
2018	Chris Anderson (21) Template:Flagicon	Christopher Parperis Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (3) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (22) Template:Flagicon		Chris Anderson sets all-time record of 22 wins<ref name="chris222" /><ref name="chris21">Template:Cite news</ref> Flo Early ties the women's record of 3 wins
2019	Max McDougall Template:Flagicon<ref name="Auto7Y-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Ryan Fairley (5) Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (4) Template:Flagicon	Mark Kit Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2020	Colspan=6 Template:N/a
2021	Colspan=6 Template:N/a
2022	Chris Anderson (23) Template:Flagicon	Jamie Evans Template:Flagicon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Flagicon		Robbe Gabriels Template:Flagicon / Amr El Shourbagy Template:Flagicon (joint winners)	Amr El Shourbagy becomes the first winner from Africa. Chris Anderson retires with an all-time record of 23 wins<ref name="Glo2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Matt Crolla Template:Flagicon	Cooper Cummings Template:Flagicon	Delaney Irving Template:Flagicon	Ryoya Minami Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Tom Kopke (1) Template:Flagicon	Dylan Twiss Template:Flagicon	Abby Lampe (2) Template:Flagicon	Joshua Shepherd Template:Flagicon		Tom Kopke becomes the first winner from Continental Europe<ref name="bbc2024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Tom Kopke (2) Template:Flagicon	Luke Preece Template:Flagicon	Ava Sender Logan Template:Flagicon	Byron Smith Template:Flagicon		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="YouTuber">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Note: All competitors before 1998 were British so a nationality flag is omitted.

Multiple winners

Men's race

• Chris Anderson – 23 (2005–2022)
• Stephen Gyde<ref name="capture2007" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> – 21 (1976–1991)

• Steven Brain<ref name="capture2007" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> – 18 (1984–2000)

• Islwyn "Izzy" John<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> – 12 (1957–1964)

• Hugh Atkinson – 5 (1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957)<ref name="gere" /><ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Ryan Fairley – 5 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019)
• Craig Fairley – 4 (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)
• Rob Preece – 4 (1992, 1993, 1993, 1994)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Paul Quarry – 4 (1961, 1961, 1962, 1962)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Roger Windo – 4 (1962, 1962, 1963, 1964)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Richard Giles – 4 (1969, 1969, 1970, 1970)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Roy Mitchell – 3 (1948, 1948, 1949)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Michael Price – 3 (1954, 1955, 1956)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Clive Whittaker – 3 (1963, 1964, 1965)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Steve Lott – 3 (1971, 1972, 1972)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Patrick Hendzell – 3 (1973, 1974, 1975)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Tony Hendzell – 3 (1977, 1978, 1979)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Raymond Giles – 3 (1965, 1966, 1966)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Kevin Gyde – 3 (1981, 1981, 1982)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Aaron Walden – 3 (2004, 2005, 2007)
• Jason Crowther – 3 (2005, 2006, 2007)
• Bernard Morgan – 2 (1949, 1950)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Tom Holliday – 2 (1952, 1953)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Eric Huckins – 2 (1967, 1968)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Peter Davis – 2 (1970, 1971)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Star Royles – 2 (1992, 1994)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Andrew Deveson – 2 (1993, 1994)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Craig Carter – 2 (1994, 1997)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Craig Brown – 2 (2000, 2002)<ref name="capture2007" />
• Joshua Shepherd – 2 (2014, 2024)<ref name="bbc2024" />
• Tom Kopke – 2 (2024, 2025)<ref name="bbc2025" />

Ladies' race

• Flo Early – 4 (2008, 2016, 2018, 2019)
• Rosemary Cooke – 3 (1953, 1955, 1956)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Amanda Turner – 3 (1981, 1982, 1983)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Dionne Carter – 3 (2004, 2005, 2006)
• Lucy Townsend – 3 (2012, 2013, 2014)
• Diane Bowers – 2 (1967, 1969)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Lynda Burnell – 2 (1970, 1971)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Deborah Harwood – 2 (1972, 1973)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Joanna Evans – 2 (1975, 1976)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Leticia Burns – 2 (1985, 1986)<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
• Rebecca Haines – 2 (1987, 1988)<ref name="capture2007" />
• Keavy Morgan – 2 (2015, 2017)
• Abby Lampe – 2 (2022, 2024)<ref name="bbc2024" />

Similar event

An annual cheese-rolling event has taken place in Chester since about 2002, to promote the town's food and drink festival. The rolling takes place on the flat down an obstacle course.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cheese-rolling in popular culture

• 1948: Cheese Rolling on Cooper's Hill, a painting by Charles March Gere, is part of the Museum of Gloucester collection, and depicts the event.<ref name="gere">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:The Cheese Rollers, Shurdington (geograph 6190978).jpg

The Cheese Rollers Pub & Restaurant, Shurdington 2019

• Early 1970s: The New Inn pub was renamed 'The Cheese Rollers Bar & Restaurant' in the early 1970s.<ref name="pub" /> Located in the neighbouring village of Shurdington, it is named after the event, and has a collection of previous cheese casings along with photos and articles about the event.<ref name="pub">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2005: A children's computer game from Neopets named "Cheeseroller", involves different varieties of outlandish cheeses, rolled down a 120-metre hill in under 60 seconds, negotiating obstacles on route. Points are awarded for grade of cheese difficulty and speed of descent.<ref name="neopet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2006: The comedian Bridget Christie performed a show about cheese-rolling at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; this was inspired by having seen the Cooper's Hill event as a child.<ref name="m778">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2008: Cheese rolling was featured in the first episode of the UK television channel Five series: Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure, broadcast on 13 August 2008, and was described as "the grandaddy of weird sports" by the titular Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness.<ref name="gloc2008" />
• 2018: The contest was the subject of the BBC One programme The Great Cheese Chase.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The contest was part of the German reality show Joko gegen Klaas - Das Duell um die Welt, where German former footballer Thorsten Legat was supposed to participate, but at the end refused to do so.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2019: Let's Roll is a short film directed by Chris Thomas<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> about a teenage girl Antonia (Amy Bowden) attempting to emulate her brother's successes in the cheese rolling. The film was screened at BAFTA-qualifying film festivals: Norwich and Edinburgh.<ref name="norwich">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2019: Royal Mail issue a collectable stamps edition of UK Weird and Wonderful Customs which includes Bog snorkelling at Llanwrtyd Wells, World Gurning Championship at Egremont, Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Burning the Clocks in Brighton, 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow, Samhain Celtic festival (Halloween) at Derry, Horn Dance at Abbots Bromley and Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill.<ref name="stamp1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="stamp2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2020: Netflix released a documentary We are the Champions, which covers six bizarre events and competitions from across the world, starting with Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill. The Cheese-Rolling follows Flo Early in her preparations for 2019 and her attempt to win the ladies' race for the fourth time.<ref name="netflix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2021: The game Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a special item called Double Gloucester cheese that is only available from 22 May to 31 May, the period when this event takes place.<ref name="animal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2023: The Longest Johns and El Pony Pisador released a joint album "The Longest Pony" which included "Wheels of Glory" as the opening track.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> This led to the band's, on their February 2025 Longest Pony tour, bringing along a wheel of Double Gloucester.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Coopers Edge