Latest news with #daredevils
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Watch daredevils risk Gloucestershire cheese rolling race as German YouTuber retains title
Daredevils have thrown themselves down a steep hill in the annual death-defying Gloucestershire cheese rolling race. Brave competitors sprinted, tripped and tumbled down Cooper's Hill in Brockworth to try and win the 8lb double Gloucester. The recent dry weather had made the racetrack harder and slower but more dangerous for the competitors. The winner of the first men's downhill race was German Tom Kopke, 23, from Munich, who retained the title he won last year. 'It was crazy. This year was different,' Mr Kopke, who runs his own YouTube channel said. Rebel cheese rollers have been staging their own unofficial event after health and safety fears caused the official competition to be cancelled in 2010.
Sky News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Cheese-loving daredevils hurl themselves down Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire for famous race
Dairy-loving daredevils from around the world have descended on Gloucestershire and thrown themselves down Cooper's Hill in the annual cheese-rolling race. Competitors ran, slid and tumbled down the near-vertical incline in an effort to try and win an 8lb wheel of Double Gloucester - a semi-hard cheese renowned for its strong and savoury flavour. They were cheered on by thousands of spectators during the notoriously dangerous race - made tougher this year with a harder racetrack due to the recent dry weather. People have been staging their own unofficial event after health and safety fears caused the official competition to be cancelled in 2010. Since then, it has been held unofficially with the police keeping a watchful eye on the event. Several races took place this year, with German YouTuber Tom Kopke winning the first men's downhill race. "It was crazy. This year was different," said the 23-year-old from Munich after retaining the title he won last year. "Last year the hill was muddy and this year it was dry and dangerous and people got injured. "I shut off my brain and went for it. "All the people at the top said they were going to steal my title but this is mine. "I worked for this. I risked my life for this. It's my cheese. Back to back." The cheese is chased 200 yards down the 1:2 gradient hill in Brockworth. Competitors travelled from across the world to take part in the series of madcap races. The women's race was won by Ava Sender Logan, 20, who was racing for the Refugee Community Kitchen, which supports displaced people in northern France and homeless people in London and Edinburgh. The second men's race was won by Luke Preece, from Gloucester, who flew down the hill race dressed in a Superman costume - and the final men's downhill race was won by Byron Smith, 33, from New Zealand. The unusual event is a centuries-old tradition and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Daredevils hurl themselves down Cooper's Hill as Gloucestershire's famous Cheese Rolling race returns
Hardy daredevils have been throwing themselves downhill as Gloucestershire's renowned Cheese Rolling race rolled back into action - only not for the faint-hearted. Eager participants marked this May Bank Holiday Monday by hurtling down Cooper's Hill, at Brockworth near Gloucester, as part of a longstanding national tradition. The event challenges people to pursue a 3kg Double Gloucester cheese rolling down the steep 200 yard hill, though has also prompted safety warnings in recent years. Hundreds of people have been gathering at Cooper's Hill to watch the occasion that is thought to have its roots in a pagan festival celebrating the return of spring. Competitors habitually chase the cheese down the 180m-high hill, with many tripping and tumbling on their way - only to pick themselves up and resume the pursuit. The first runners to catch the cheese, which can reach speeds of up to 70mph, are declared victors in various races across the event that dates back to the 1800s. But competing is not without its risks - in 1993, 15 people were injured in the racing, four of them seriously hurt, and officials have ramped up warnings in recent years. In 2009 and 2011 the race was cancelled due to safety concerns but despite this the event continued unofficially. And the 2020 and 2021 versions were called off as a result of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions, before a return on June 5 2022. It was recently revealed that the tradition could be given an official honour by being added to a UK heritage list. The Government is asking the public to nominate their favourite traditions that best reflect Britain, to be recorded in a new Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. Nominations will be divided into seven categories, including performing arts, sports and games. Crafts and social practices such as festivals and customs will also feature, alongside oral expressions like poetry and storytelling. Other traditions in the county such as surfing the Severn Bore or Woolsack Races in Tetbury have also been touted as potential contenders for the list. Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said last month: 'The UK is rich with wonderful traditions.' Last year's Cheese Rolling men's race at Cooper's Hill was won by Tom Kopke from Germany, who told afterwards how he was 'buzzing' - and vowed to return in 2025 to defend his title. Mr Kopke, who runs his own YouTube channel, said: 'I love this event and it's just crazy. The day before I went cliff diving and I am all for these crazy events. 'I promised my grandma I am going to give it to her, so she is going to get the cheese.' Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson from Gloucestershire Police has previously described the event as a 'unique tradition', adding that the force had 'no desire to stop it'. But officers said they had a duty to tell the public the local Tewkesbury Borough Safety Advisory Group had declared it unsafe, raising concerns about the potential strain on emergency services. The advisory group is made up of multiple agencies, including emergency services, who work to promote safety and welfare at events. Members have told of concerns about how officials could respond if there were a major incident, after ambulances struggled to access the site in 2023. The winner of that year's women's race was knocked unconscious at the finish line and only discovered had won after waking up in a medical tent. The event attracts competitors from around the world - as well as capturing transatlantic coverage. One notable report in 2006 in the American National Library of Medicine was headlined: 'Dozens injured as cheese roll goes crackers.' The article went on to say how 25 people were injured 'at an annual cheese rolling competition in which daredevils chase giant cheese wheels down a steep slope in western England '. The magazine said: 'Dozens took part in the bizarre event at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, before a crowd of about 3,000 cheering spectators. '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 history of Cooper Hill's Cheese-Rolling event The ceremony originally took place on Whit Monday, but was later moved to the Spring bank holiday. The first evidence of cheese rolling is found in a message written by the town crier in 1826. But even then, the writing suggested it was an old tradition, believed to be about 600-years-old. 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).
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Cheese rolling live updates: Daredevils descend on village to chase Double Gloucester wheel down steep hill in one of UK's most extreme races
Daredevil cheese rollers from across the world will descend on a tiny village in Gloucestershire for one of Britain's most bizarre bank holiday traditions. Classed as an extreme sport and dubbed one of the UK's toughest downhill races, the competition involves chasing a 7lb (3kg) Double Gloucester cheese wheel down Coopers Hill in Brockworth. The winner gets to keep the cheese. Although the origins of the tradition are unknown, theories suggest it may have started at least 600 years ago as a pagan festival to mark the start of summer. Cheese rollers descend on Gloucestershire village for bizarre bank holiday race Every year thousands of people visit Cooper's Hill in Brockworth as daredevils from across the world compete to chase for a wheel of Double Gloucester. We've become used to the sight of people sprinting, tripping and tumbling down the steep bank in the name of cheese in what has become one of the most extreme and bizarre events in the British calendar. Stick with us as we bring you live coverage including news, pictures and videos from the event. We will also provide a live stream so you can watch the races as they unfold with the first one scheduled for 12pm.
