cheese rolling - cheese rolling stag weekends

The Cheese rolling race has been held for the last 200 years and is believed to date back to Roman times. Cheese Rolling is when the Double Gloucester cheese weighing seven pounds, measuring three inches thick and nine inches in diameter is thrown down the perilous Coopers hill and those taking part (2-20) then fearlessly(they say!) throw themselves down after it. The cheese wheel can reach speeds of 70mph giving a new meaning to the term in hot pursuit.
format
there are three men's races and one for women 'The Master of Ceremonies' escorts an invited guest to the start line and helps him (or her) to sit on the precipitous slope, holding a 7-8lb. Double Gloucester cheese.
At the command (given by the M.C.) of....
'ONE to be ready!'
'TWO to be steady!'
'THREE to prepare!'......
As it would take a miracle to actually catch the cheese the winner is the one who reaches the bottom first. It may sound simple but the 250-yard race hill is extremely challenging to even the most supple cheese rollers, bums and ankles take a real battering as they pummell down, negotiating the very steep drops, It then suddenly flattens out at the bottom and often leads to a near collision with the waiting fence.
availability
open event.
seasonal
the last bank holiday Monday in May.
group size
6+.
comment
it's a hell of a thing but damn dangerous, you have to be fit as a butchers dog and as rubbery as hong kong phooey. You may also want to consider that no insurance will cover you if you take part in this activity.
available in
Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham