THIS is the world's most dangerous race and it involves cheese!

Time of India

26-05-2025

Credit: X
On a steep hill in the quiet English countryside, chaos erupts every May. Dozens of people, many of them strangers to the region, willingly hurl themselves down a treacherous slope in pursuit of a runaway cheese wheel.
This is not satire—it's a real competition, widely regarded as the world's most dangerous race, and all for a wheel of Double Gloucester.
Welcome to Cheese Rolling at Cooper's Hill, a centuries-old tradition held in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, where gravity, adrenaline, and madness collide.
What is cheese rolling?
Cheese rolling is as straightforward as it is bizarre. A 7lb (3kg) wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is launched down Cooper's Hill, a steep, 180-meter slope with a daunting 1:2 gradient.
Competitors then chase it to the bottom. The first person to either catch the cheese (nearly impossible) or cross the finish line ahead of the pack is crowned the winner—and gets to keep the cheese as a prize.
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But the risk is real. The cheese wheel can hit speeds of up to 70 mph, and the slope is littered with loose rocks, stinging nettles, and tree roots. The vast majority of runners lose their footing within seconds and tumble violently to the bottom.
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Injuries are frequent, with sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, and concussions as common as grass stains.
'You've just got to have a disregard for your own safety,' said Chris Anderson, a winner of the event, in an interview with CNN Sports.
When and where it happens
The race is held annually on the last bank holiday Monday in May, attracting thousands of spectators from across the globe. This year's event takes place on May 26, when the grassy slopes of Cooper's Hill will once again echo with the sounds of cheering fans and the thuds of bodies hitting the ground.
The hill, located near Brockworth, stands at 590 feet (180 meters) and is considered the steepest in Gloucestershire. The slope is so severe that it can cause vertigo just from standing at the top.
Who can enter?
The event is free and open to anyone over 18, with no registration required. Participants simply show up at the hilltop on race day. There are multiple downhill races throughout the day, including separate ones for men and women, and in recent years, people from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Egypt have competed.
The race has developed a global reputation, thanks in large part to viral videos that capture the full insanity of the event. Runners crash, flip, and slide down the hill in scenes that resemble a human avalanche more than an organized race.
When did the festival start?
Nobody knows for sure when the cheese rolling began. The earliest written record dates back to 1826, but local legends suggest its origins could be much older—possibly a pagan ritual to mark the arrival of spring or a practical test of barrel integrity by local coopers (barrel makers).
Regardless of how it started, it has become a fiercely defended tradition for Brockworth locals. Despite growing concerns over safety and legal liability, residents have fought to keep the event alive.
Race with no official organizer
Here's where it gets complicated. Though the event appears well-attended and organized, there are no official organizers. Signs posted around the hill make it very clear: participants compete entirely at their own risk, and in the event of injury, there is no one to sue.