Late cheese rolling champions to be honoured at 2025 event
Izzy John was 13 years old when he chased his first cheese down Cooper's Hill in 1956.But, after breaking his ankle on his first race, his mum was not happy."The next year, his mum was going back to Wales, so she took his daps with her," his son Danny John said."He borrowed two left feet - that's all he could borrow - and he went up the hill. I think he won two or three cheeses that year."
In total, Mr John said his father, who died at the age of 72 in 2015, was adamant he won 14 cheeses before he stopped competing in his mid 20s, although the official record shows 13.But, despite his passion for the sport, he hated cheese."He would always give one [cheese] to the local old people's home," Mr John said."He was the first champion, it makes me very proud."
'Uncompromising, fearless'
Another champion, Steve Brain died shortly before his 50th birthday in 2018.He won 18 cheeses during his time on the hill, and was 15 when he first competed.Mr Chapman added that the cheese rolling champion was "an uncompromising, fearless individual"."I suppose running down that hill was great evidence of that," Mr Chapman said.
Mr Brain developed a "bit of a reputation" after scooping so many cheeses, Mr Chapman said, before his cheese rolling career was cut short by a broken ankle."It was a bit like a boxer not wanting to lose his title. He was very competitive, that one," Mr Chapman said.And you can watch this year's cheese roll live on the BBC I Player and on the BBC news website and app this Monday from 11:30 BST. The first race is at 12:00.
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