A German man has claimed first prize and vowed to come back next year to defend his title at Gloucestershire’s famous cheese-rolling event which took place today.
The downhill race on Cooper’s Hill went ahead today despite objections from Tewkesbury’s safety advisory group.
The men’s race began at noon and was won by Tom Kopke from Germany who told the BBC he was ‘buzzing’ and would be back next year to defend his title.
American YouTuber and rapper Speedy, or IShowSpeed, came fourth in this year’s cheese-rolling event but injured himself on the way down.
He vowed to try again at next year’s event and told the BBC he ‘knows how to win now’.
There was a false start to the women’s race at 1pm, where participants started to tumble down the hill, but no cheese had been rolled.
But after a slight hiccup, the women’s race was won by Abby Lampe from North Carolina who took home the trophy for the second time after her win back in 2022.
Participants take part in the annual cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire today
Tom Kopke, from Munich, winner of the first race, lifts a Double Gloucester cheese after taking part in the annual cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth
Abby Lampe, winner of the women’s annual Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling competition (pictured) She won previously in 2022
YouTuber and rapper Speedy shows the BBC his injury after he came fourth in this year’s race
The winner of the first men’s race today, Tom from Germany can be seen wearing hi-vis in the front
Participants tumble down Cooper’s Hill this morning as they take part in the annual cheese-rolling event
Participants take part in the annual cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth
Men tumble and fall down Cooper’s Hill during today’s race (pictured)
The event sees competitors chase a 3kg Double Gloucester cheese rolling down the steep 180m hill, tripping and tumbling as they go.
Hundreds of people gather to speculate every year, with the event dating back to the 1800s.
The steep gradient means the event is not for the faint-hearted and the cheese can reach speeds of up to 70mph, with the first runner to catch it crowned the winner.
Concerns were raised by Tewkesbury Borough Safety Advisory Group who said last year’s event put a strain on emergency services after a number of people suffered injuries.
Organisers cleared the hill for stones, rocks, brambles and other potential hazards for today’s event but couldn’t guarantee they had cleared everything.
Participants do not need to register online or pay a huge entrance fee to take part.
Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson from Gloucestershire Police said the event is a ‘unique tradition and we have no desire to stop it’.
But police had a duty to tell the public that the council’s safety group had declared it unsafe.
‘Those intending to go should consider the risk they might be putting themselves at’ he said.
The Safety Advisory Group said it has made ‘numerous attempts’ to engage with organisers but they have not shared how they plan to keep people safe this year.
The group, which is made up of multiple agencies, said they were concerned about how emergency services would be able to respond if there was a major incident, after ambulances struggled to access the site in 2023.
The winner of last year’s women’s race was knocked unconscious at the finish line and she only discovered she’d won when she woke up in a medical tent.
The start of the men’s race this morning as around 20 people take part (pictured)
Spectator’s walk up the hill to watch the start of the races today (pictured)
The cheese is let loose at the start of the men’s race (pictured)
Participants in the men’s race stumble and fall over as they chase the rolling cheese
Winner of the men’s race, Tom (pictured centre), can be seen leading the way during today’s men’s race
Abby Lampe (pictured) celebrates after winning this year’s Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling competition in Brockworth
Spectators wait patiently at the bottom of the hill for the races to begin today
Spectators wait for the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling competition to start in Brockworth
The traditional event attracts people from around the globe who come to chase a 7lb Double Gloucester cheese down the steep Coopers Hill.
People are advised ‘attend this event entirely at your own risk’ by organisers today
Despite yearly warnings about the event, people travel from all over the world to attend.
There are multiple races and the rules are simple – get to the bottom of the hill first.
Gravity does most of the hard work, as competitors run – or in most cases tumble – down the steep slope.
Volunteers are ready to help catch runners at the bottom but injuries are almost inevitable.
Two possible origins have been proposed for the event. Some believe it may have evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common, while others believe it has pagan origins from the custom of rolling objects down a hill.
It is understood that bundles of burning brushwood were rolled down the hill to represent the birth of the New Year after winter.
It is also believed to have links to a traditional fertility rite where buns, biscuits and sweets are scattered from the top of the hill by the Master of Ceremonies (the official host).
This in turn encourages the fruits of the harvest.
In 1993, fifteen people were injured in the event, four of them seriously injured.
In 2009 and 2011 it was cancelled due to safety concerns but despite this the event continued unofficially.
But in 2020 and 2021 the event was cancelled as a result of the Covid pandemic and returned on Sunday, June 5 2022, ending its two-year absence.
On the official Facebook page, organisers say both spectators and participants attend at their own risk.
One senior police officer said ‘If a major incident were to occur, if people were to slip at the top of the hill and fall, we would have a crush, we would have multiple casualties and we would have a requirement to respond.’
The ‘lack of appropriate planning’ means that emergency services would struggle to respond, he added.
The wacky event is thought to have its roots in a pagan festival to celebrate the return of spring.
The Safety Advisory Group said it was willing to help the organisers get the right documentation and insurance in place.
‘We would like to see evidence of safety documentation and risk-assessment processes’ said Tewkesbury Borough Council.
It attracts competitors from around the world.
In 2006, the American National Library of Medicine published a report from The Australian headlined ‘Dozens injured as cheese roll goes crackers.
‘Twenty five people were injured at an annual cheese rolling competition in which daredevils chase giant cheese wheels down a steep slope in western England.
‘Dozens took part in the bizarre event at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth,
Gloucestershire, before a crowd of about 3,000 cheering spectators.
Signs have been put in place ahead of the event due to take place today (pictured)
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust say they are not involved in the organisation of the event despite it taking part on land managed by the charity. Picture taken today ahead of the event
Organisers have been clearing the hill for stones, rocks, brambles and other potential hazards for today’s event but cannot guarantee they have cleared everything
Chf Supt Mathieson said he wants to make sure that people can safely attend the event, for which he is the gold commander
Participants practising their tumbling form ahead of the event set to take place today
‘They raced for 200m down the slope after wheel-shaped Double Gloucester cheeses, decorated in a blue and red ribbon.
‘Many slipped, somersaulted, and tumbled their way to the bottom during five bone-crunching races over two hours.
‘Of the 25 people hurt, 12 were spectators, one of whom was hit by one of the hard, 4kg, dinner plate sized cheeses used in each race, but only two people were taken to hospital for further assessment.’
The event has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
Cheese Rolling on Cooper’s Hill was painted by Charles March Gere in 1948, but the first written evidence is found from a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826, however even then it was apparent the event was an old tradition, and is believed to be at least six hundred years old.
Chris Anderson first competed in 2004 at the age of 17, coming second, and he won his first race in 2005 and beat the record. He has now claimed the title 23 times.
The father-of-three plans to compete for another few years – until his eldest son can take over the baton.
‘It’s all over so quickly’ he said. ‘The first time I won I broke my ankle and had to get stretchered away.
‘I’m from the local village, so it’s good to keep the record in the village.
‘For the locals, it’s a massive event for us.’
Preparations for the competition have been taking place all week – trimming away stinging nettles, picking up litter and cutting the grass.
The winner of each race gets to keep the Double Gloucester cheese wheel.
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