Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake

The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event held on the Spring Bank Holiday at Cooper's Hill, at Brockworth near Gloucester, England.<ref name="BBC2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Participants race down the Template:Convert long hill chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. It is uncertain when the tradition first began, and is possibly much older than its earliest known written attestation in 1826.<ref name="gere" /> The event has a long tradition, held by the people of the village, but now people from a wide range of countries take part in the competition as well. The Guardian in 2013 called it a "world-famous event," with winners coming from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.<ref name="Gu130527">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Glo2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The event is called Cheese-Rolling and Wake because it includes the cheese rolling race itself, and the festive gathering that follows. The word "wake" can mean an annual festival and holiday, originally one held in a rural parish on the feast day of the patron saint of the church. Brockworth has St George's Church, and the feast day of St George is 23 April.

Format

View from the top in December

From the top of the hill, a Template:Convert round of Double Gloucester cheese is sent rolling down the hill, which is Template:Convert long, and with a slope of around 50 percent (26.6 degrees).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Competitors then start racing down the hill after the cheese.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /> The competitors aim to catch the cheese; however, it has around a one-second head start and can reach high speeds, enough to knock over and injure a spectator. The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese, even though the cheese is never actually caught.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Multiple races are held during the day, with separate events for men and women. Participants in the downhill races must be over the age of 18.<ref name="BBC2025"/>

Then there are separate uphill races. Considerably less hazardous, these races are open to minors. In the past (e.g. 2014), the uphill race categories have been "boys 14 and under" and "girls 14 and under". In the most recent races in 2025, the children's uphill categories were "under 11" and "11 and over." The adult's uphill race was mixed.<ref name="BBC2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The number of races held during the event has varied over the years, but there are usually four downhill races (three men's, one women's) and six or seven uphill races (adults and children).Template:Cn

In the 2013 competition, a foam replica replaced the cheese for safety reasons, but a real cheese wheel was restored the following year.<ref name="b929">Template:Cite news</ref>

History

A race on 27 May 2013

The event originally took place each Whit Monday, but was later moved to the Spring Bank Holiday. The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found in a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826;<ref name="gere" /> even then it was apparent that the event was an old tradition, and it is believed to be at least six hundred years old.<ref name="Spicer">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Two possible origins have been proposed for the ceremony. First, it may have evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common.<ref name="Spicer" /><ref name="Anon 2012">Anon. "Cheese Rolling on Coopers Hill, Exhibition", Gloucester City and Folk Museums, Gloucester, 14 July 2012.</ref> Second, there may be pagan origins for the custom of rolling objects down the hill. It is thought that bundles of burning brushwood were rolled down the hill to represent the birth of the New Year after winter. Connected with this belief is the traditional scattering of buns, biscuits and sweets at the top of the hill by the Master of Ceremonies.<ref name="capture1997to2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This is said to be a fertility rite to encourage the fruits of harvest.<ref name="Anon 2012" />

In 1982, a team of students from the University of Bristol filmed the 31 May event using film cameras, with one camera overcranked to produce slow motion.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref name="hartzell">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1993, sixteen people were injured, four of them seriously, during the event.<ref name="Anon 2012" /> In 2009, safety concerns were raised after 15,000 spectators arrived, when there was only space for around 5,000. These concerns led to the organisers cancelling the 2010 event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the cancellation, around 100 people attended and held an unofficial event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, a new 2-day ticketed event was proposed in order to address the safety concerns raised in previous years and to allow the event to continue operating.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The proposals were received negatively due to the cost of tickets, and the proposed event was cancelled following the organisers receiving abuse.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the cancellation, the event continued unofficially with around 200 people attending.<ref name="BBC 2011 cancellation">Template:Cite news</ref> The event has continued without official management or planning alongside the Council Safety Advisory Group.

In 2020 and 2021, the event was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It returned on Sunday 5 June 2022, ending a two-year absence.<ref name="back2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Glo2020" />Template:Efn

Cheese

Undated photo of the master of ceremonies holding the cheese

The cheese currently used in the event is Template:Convert Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each is protected for the rolling by a wooden casing round the side, and it is decorated with ribbons at the start of the race. Formerly, three cheeses were presented by parishioners, and the cheeses were usually rolled by them. A collection is usually made now to purchase them, as well as sweets, and also to provide prize money.<ref name="Anon 2012" />

Since 1988, the cheese has been supplied by local cheesemaker Diana Smart and her son Rod from their Churcham farm.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Facts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2013, a police inspector warned the 86-year-old Smart that she could be held responsible for injuries.<ref name="BBC, 2013" /> Chief Superintendent Nigel Avron of Gloucestershire Constabulary also made these comments: "If you are an organiser in some way or some capacity you could potentially be held liable for something that took place at that event".<ref name="BBC, 2013">Template:Cite news</ref> Diana Smart died in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2013, organisers of the event switched to a lightweight foam version of the cheese for safety reasons.<ref name="b929"/> In the second race of 2013, Australian Caleb Stalder managed to catch the fake cheese and claim victory despite being some way behind the leaders.<ref name="cheese2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, the organisers returned to using real cheeses.<ref name="b929" />

Injuries

Due to the steepness and uneven surface of Cooper's Hill, there are usually several injuries each year.<ref name="bbc2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> St John Ambulance have previously provided first aid cover at the event; however, this stopped in 2012 when the event was no longer being officially managed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The lack of official medical provision on site has led to concerns from the local resilience forum about the safety of the event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Canadian competitor Delaney Irving won the ladies' race in 2023, despite finishing unconscious, and only learning of her victory in the medical enclosure.<ref name="ko">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Six competitors were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment following the event.<ref name="bbc2023" />

Results

Winners of the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling & Wake

Year	Race 1 (men's downhill)	Race 2 (men's downhill)	Race 3 (women's downhill)	Race 4 (men's downhill)	Race 5 (men's downhill)	Race 6 (11 and under uphill)	Race 7 (12 to 16 uphill)	Race 8 (adults' mixed uphill)	Notes
1948	Roy Mitchell (1)	Roy Mitchell (2)	Jean Simpson	M.J. Russell					<ref name="J.Jefferies">Template:Cite book</ref>
1949	Roy Mitchell (3)	J. Binder	Betty Hunt	Bernard Morgan (1)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1950	T. Brewster	H. Ireland	M.E. Light	Ken Davis	Bernard Morgan (2)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1951	Tom Holliday (1)	M.C. Pinchin	Jean MacDonald	J. Bailey					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1952	Tom Holliday (2)	Hugh Atkinson (1)	Hilary Cooke	no race					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1953	Tom Holliday (3)	Ronald Ray	Rosemary Cooke (1)	no race					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1954	Michael Price (1)	Eric Avent	Elke Ellaway	Hugh Atkinson (2)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1955	Michael Price (2)	Hugh Atkinson (3)	Rosemary Cooke (2)	Roy Holliday					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1956	Michael Price (3)	Hugh Atkinson (4)	Rosemary Cooke (3)	Glyn Jenkins					Rosemary Cooke sets women's record of 3 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1957	Izzy John (1)	Izzy John (2)	June Wheeler	Hugh Atkinson (5)	Frank Faulkner				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1958	Izzy John (3)	Izzy John (4)	unknown	Clive Walker	Izzy John (5)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1959	Izzy John (6)*	Izzy John (7)*	Mary Bancroft	unknown					* unconfirmed<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1960	Izzy John (8)	Stanley Wilson-Copp	Sheenan McBride	Raymond Beard					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1961	Izzy John (9)	Izzy John (10)	no race	Paul Quarry (1)	Paul Quarry (2)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1962	Paul Quarry (3)	Paul Quarry (4)	no race	Roger Windo (1)	Izzy John (11)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1963	Roger Windo (2)	Roger Windo (3)	Pat Harding	Clive Whittaker (1)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1964	Clive Whittaker (2)	Roger Windo (4)	Julie Tiffany	Izzy John (12)					Izzy John sets the record with unconfirmed 12 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1965	Raymond Giles (1)	Michael Davis	Janet Ballinger	Clive Whittaker (3)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1966	Raymond Giles (2)	Raymond Giles (3)	Janet Beesley	Michael Giles					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1967	R.A. Copley	Eric Huckins	Diane Bowers (1)	George Duckett					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1968	Hugh Oxenham	Eric Huckins	Barbara Bayne	Michael Giles					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1969	Richard Giles (1)	Richard Giles (2)	Diane Bowers (2)	Joe Johnson					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1970	Richard Giles (3)	Richard Giles (4)	Lynda Burnell (1)	Peter Davis					<ref name="J.Jefferies" /> Gloucestershire Echo wrongly reported her name as Lynda Burnett
1971	Steve Lott (1)	Peter Davis	Lynda Burnell (2)	Gordon Graham					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1972	Steve Lott (2)	Christopher Woodhouse	Deborah Harwood (1)	John Hendzell	Steve Lott (3)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1973	Christopher Woodhouse	Alan Thorpe	Deborah Harwood (2)	Patrick Hendzell (1)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1974	Stephen Giles	Patrick Hendzell (2)	Susan Keavy	Christopher Woodhouse					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1975	Paul Chandler	Patrick Hendzell (3)	Joanna Evans (1)	Paul Brammer					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1976	George Duckett	Stephen Gyde (1)	Joanna Evans (2)	Paul Williams					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1977	Tony Hendzell	David Lawlor	Megan Morris	Rory Martin					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1978	Tony Hendzell	John Lowe	Janice McGrory	Stephen Gyde (2)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1979	Stephen Gyde (3)	Stephen Gyde (4)	Candice Phillips	Tony Hendzell					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1980	Stephen Gyde (5)	Stephen Gyde (6)	Mandy Day	Stephen Gyde (7)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1981	Kevin Gyde (1)	Kevin Gyde (2)	Amanda Turner (1)	Andy Fuller					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1982	Stephen Gyde (8)	Stephen Gyde (9)	Amanda Turner (2)	Kevin Gyde (3)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1983	Colin Hill	Stephen Gyde (10)	Amanda Turner (3)	'Digger' Gardener					Amanda Turner ties the women's record of 3 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1984	Stephen Gyde (11)	Steven Brain (1)	Claudia Dart	Ian Campbell					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1985	Stephen Gyde (12)	Stephen Gyde (13)	Leticia Burns (1)	Costas Logothetis					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Steven Brain (2)	Steven Brain (3)	Leticia Burns (2)	Stephen Gyde (14)					<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="capture2007" />
1987	Steven Brain (4)	Stephen Gyde (15)	Rebecca Haines (1)	Steven Brain (5)					<ref name="capture2007" />
1988	Stephen Gyde (16)	Stephen Gyde (17)	Rebecca Haines (2)	Steven Brain (6)					<ref name="capture2007" />
1989	Paul Andres	Lawrence Farlow	Kathleen Underwood	Julian Pritchard					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1990	Steven Brain (7)	Stephen Gyde (18)	Jacqueline McGinn	Steven Brain (8)					<ref name="capture2007" />
1991	Stephen Gyde (19)	Stephen Gyde (20)	Christie Sweeney	Stephen Gyde (21)					Stephen Gyde retires with an all-time record of 21 wins<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="capture2007" />
1992	Terry Sawczuk	Stuart Heggs		Rob Preece (1)	Star Royles				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1993	Rob Preece (2)	Rob Preece (3)		Jamie Barnes	Andrew Deveson (1)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1994	Rob Preece (4)	Andrew Deveson (2)		Star Royles	Craig Carter (1)				<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1995	Stephen Brain (9)	Jonathan Smith	Claire Carter	Darren Yates					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Steven Brain (10)	Harry Hancy	Marie Andow	John Shelton					<ref name="J.Jefferies" />
1997	Steven Brain (11)	Steven Brain (12)	Tina Rimmer	Craig Carter (2)					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="cnn1997">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998	Peter Astman		Amelia Hardwick						citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Steven Brain (13)	Steven Brain (14)	Helen Thorpe	Steven Brain (15)					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000	Steven Brain (16)	Steven Brain (17)	Kirby Shepherd	Craig Brown (1)					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Colspan=10 Template:N/a
2002	Simon Fowler	Craig Brown (2)	Saskia Thomas	Alan Barth					Event took place on Tuesday due to Queen's Jubilee celebrations<ref name="J.Jefferies" /><ref name="cheese2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Colspan=10 Template:N/a
2004	Padam Shreer Template:Flagicon	Marc Ellis Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (1) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (1) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Padam Shreer becomes the first winner from Asia. Marc Ellis and Dionne Carter become the first winners from Oceania<ref name="NZ">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="cheese2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2005	Jason Crowther (1) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (1) Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (2) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (2) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	.<ref name="BBC2005" /><ref name="cheese2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Adam Dunsford wins "uphill open race".
							Chris Calver-Jones	Adam Dunsford
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
							Hannah Jones
2006	Jason Crowther (2) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (1) Template:Flagicon	Dionne Carter (3) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (2) Template:Flagicon	Andrew Brewin Template:Flagicon Template:Efn	Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Dionne Carter ties the women's record of 3 wins.<ref name="cheese2006">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Josh Prike		Julian Gray Template:Flagicon
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						Kelley Beckett		Ruth Bradbrook
2007	Jason Crowther (3) Template:Flagicon	Aaron Walden (3) Template:Flagicon	Jemima Bullock Template:Flagicon	Alan Morris Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (3) Template:Flagicon	Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="SMH">Quoted in {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2008	Chris Anderson (4) Template:Flagicon	Peter Mackenzie-Shaw Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (1) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (2) Template:Flagicon	Wade Sansom Template:Flagicon	Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="gloc2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2009	Chris Anderson (5) Template:Flagicon	Scott Bevan Template:Flagicon	Michelle Kokiri-Gisbon Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (6) Template:Flagicon	Josh Geitz Template:Flagicon	Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="cheese2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Jason Baugh		Toby Payton Template:Flagicon
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						Maddie Morris		Jessica Ledger Template:Flagicon
2010	Chris Anderson (7) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (3) Template:Flagicon	Tanya Silverman Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (8) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="cheese2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2011	Chris Anderson (9) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (10) Template:Flagicon	Jo Guest Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (11) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="cheese2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2012	Chris Anderson (12) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (13) Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (1) Template:Flagicon	Craig Fairley (4) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="cheese2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2013	Kenny Rackers Template:Flagicon	Keleb Stalder Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (2) Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (1) Template:Flagicon	Tomoaki Tanaka Template:Flagicon	Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Kenny Rackers becomes the first winner from North America.<ref name="cheese2013" /><ref name="kenny">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Gu130527" />
								Kenny Rackers Template:Flagicon<ref name="Cheese-Rolling2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
2014	Joshua Shepherd (1) Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (2) Template:Flagicon	Lucy Townsend (3) Template:Flagicon	Sheldon Ronald Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Lucy Townsend ties the women's record of 3 wins.<ref name="cheese2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IBT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sam Parrant wins "mixed, open uphill" race. Kaspar Wickens-Shaw wins "boys 14 and under" uphill race. Mollie D’Arcy Rice wins "girls 14 and under" race.
						Kaspar Wickens-Shaw (1) Template:Flagicon<ref name="cheese2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
							Mollie D’Arcy Rice
2015	Chris Anderson (14) Template:Flagicon	Ryan Fairley (3) Template:Flagicon	Keavy Morgan (1) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (15) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	.<ref name="cheese2015" /> Kaspar Wickens-Shaw wins "boys 14 and under" uphill race. Kacie Anderson wins "girls 14 and under" uphill race.
						Kaspar Wickens-Shaw (2) Template:Flagicon
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
							Kacie Anderson (1) Template:Flagicon<ref name="Cheese-Rolling2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016	Chris Anderson (16) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (17) Template:Flagicon	Flo Early Template:Flagicon (2)	Ryan Fairley (4) Template:Flagicon<ref name="Ryan2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="cheese2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="standard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
					Girls'		Girls'	Women's
2017	Chris Anderson (18) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (19) Template:Flagicon	Keavy Morgan (2) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (20) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	<ref name="chris22">Template:Cite news</ref>
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
							Kacie Anderson (2)<ref name="2017resultf">Template:Cite news</ref>
2018	Chris Anderson (21) Template:Flagicon	Christopher Parperis Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (3) Template:Flagicon	Chris Anderson (22) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Chris Anderson sets all-time record of 22 wins<ref name="chris21">Template:Cite news</ref> Flo Early ties the women's record of 3 wins
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>			Amy Hill
2019	Max McDougall Template:Flagicon<ref name="Auto7Y-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Ryan Fairley (5) Template:Flagicon	Flo Early (4) Template:Flagicon	Mark Kit Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Flo Early sets a new women's record of 4 wins<ref name="Glo2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
							citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Girls'					Girls'	Women's
		citation					CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2020	Colspan=10 Template:N/a
2021	Colspan=10 Template:N/a
2022	Chris Anderson (23) Template:Flagicon	Jamie Evans Template:Flagicon	Abby Lampe (1)<ref name="lampe">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Flagicon	Robbe Gabriels Template:Flagicon / Amr El Shourbagy Template:Flagicon (joint winners)		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Chris Anderson retires with an all-time record of 23 wins<ref name="Glo2022" /> Robbe Gabriels becomes the first winner from Continental Europe. Amr El Shourbagy becomes the first winner from Africa.
				citation			CitationClass=web }}</ref>
				Girls'			Girls'	Women's
				Leilani Ryder (3)
2023	Matt Crolla Template:Flagicon	Cooper Cummings Template:Flagicon	Delaney Irving Template:Flagicon	Ryoya Minami Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Cooper Cummings sets record for fastest race time at 13 seconds<ref name="Guinness" /><ref name="ko" /><ref name="Glo2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Riley Parker	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>		Elliot
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						Evie	Leilani Ryder (4)	Megan
2024	Tom Kopke (1) Template:Flagicon	Dylan Twiss Template:Flagicon	Abby Lampe (2) Template:Flagicon	Joshua Shepherd (2) Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Tom Kopke first person to win from Germany.
						citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Liam Daunter
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						Orion Ryder	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Tom Kopke (2) Template:Flagicon	Luke Preece Template:Flagicon	Ava Sender Logan Template:Flagicon	Byron Smith Template:Flagicon		Boys'	Boys'	Men's	Luke Preece (also reported as Luke Briggs) is the son of four-time winner Rob Preece.<ref name="Auto7Y-2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="YouTuber">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
						Louie Baker (2)	Alfie Townsend (2)
						Girls'	Girls'	Women's
						citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Leilani Ryder (6)		Ariel Dempsey Template:Flagicon<ref name="bbcJune2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Note: All competitors before 2004 were British so a nationality flag is omitted.

Multiple winners

Men’s Champion	Wins	Years
Template:Sortname	23	2005–2022
Template:Sortname<ref name="capture2007" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21	1976–1991
Template:Sortname<ref name="capture2007" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17	1984–2000
Template:Sortname<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	12	1957–1964
Template:Sortname<ref name="gere" /><ref name="J.Jefferies" />	5	1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Template:Sortname	5	2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
Template:Sortname	4	2006, 2008, 2010, 2012
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	4	1969, 1969, 1970, 1970
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	4	1961, 1961, 1962, 1962
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	4	1962, 1962, 1963, 1964
Template:Sortname	3	2005, 2006, 2007
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1965, 1966, 1966
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1981, 1981, 1982
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1973, 1974, 1975
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1977, 1978, 1979
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1951, 1952, 1953
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1971, 1972, 1972
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1948, 1948, 1949
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1954, 1955, 1956
Template:Sortname	3	2004, 2005, 2007
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1963, 1964, 1965
Template:Sortname<ref name="capture2007" />	2	2000, 2002
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1994, 1997
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1970, 1971
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1993, 1994
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1967, 1968
Template:Sortname<ref name="bbc2025" />	2	2024, 2025
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1949, 1950
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1992, 1994
Template:Sortname<ref name="bbc2024" />	2	2014, 2024

Women’s Champion	Wins	Years
Template:Sortname	4	2008, 2016, 2018, 2019
Template:Sortname	3	2004, 2005, 2006
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1953, 1955, 1956
Template:Sortname	3	2012, 2013, 2014
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	3	1981, 1982, 1983
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1967, 1969
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1970, 1971
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1985, 1986
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1975, 1976
Template:Sortname<ref name="capture2007" />	2	1987, 1988
Template:Sortname<ref name="J.Jefferies" />	2	1972, 1973
Template:Sortname<ref name="bbc2024" />	2	2022, 2024
Template:Sortname	2	2015, 2017

Children's Uphill Champion	Wins	Years
Leilani Ryder	6	2018, 2019, 2022–2025
Kacie Anderson	2	2015, 2017
Louie Baker	2	2024, 2025
Alfie Townsend	2	2022, 2025
Kaspar Wickens-Shaw	2	2014, 2015

Similar event

An annual cheese-rolling event took place in Chester from about 2002, to promote the city's food and drink festival. The rolling took place on the flat down an obstacle course.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is not being held any more.

Cheese-rolling in popular culture

• 1948: Cheese Rolling on Cooper's Hill, a painting by Charles March Gere, is part of the Museum of Gloucester collection, and depicts the event.<ref name="gere">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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The Cheese Rollers Pub & Restaurant, Shurdington 2019

• Early 1970s: The New Inn pub was renamed 'The Cheese Rollers Bar & Restaurant' in the early 1970s.<ref name="pub" /> Located in the neighbouring village of Shurdington, it is named after the event, and has a collection of previous cheese casings along with photos and articles about the event.<ref name="pub">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2005: A children's computer game from Neopets named "Cheeseroller", involves different varieties of outlandish cheeses, rolled down a 120-metre hill in under 60 seconds, negotiating obstacles on route. Points are awarded for grade of cheese difficulty and speed of descent.<ref name="neopet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2006: The comedian Bridget Christie performed a show about cheese-rolling at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; this was inspired by having seen the Cooper's Hill event as a child.<ref name="m778">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2008: Cheese rolling was featured in the first episode of the UK television channel Five series: Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure, broadcast on 13 August 2008, and was described as "the grandaddy of weird sports" by the titular Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness.<ref name="gloc2008" />
• 2018: The contest was the subject of the BBC One programme The Great Cheese Chase.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The contest was part of the German reality show Joko gegen Klaas - Das Duell um die Welt, where German former footballer Thorsten Legat was supposed to participate, but at the end refused to do so.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2019: Let's Roll is a short film directed by Chris Thomas<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> about a teenage girl Antonia (Amy Bowden) attempting to emulate her brother's successes in the cheese rolling. The film was screened at BAFTA-qualifying film festivals: Norwich and Edinburgh.<ref name="norwich">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2019: Royal Mail issue a collectable stamps edition of UK Weird and Wonderful Customs which includes Bog snorkelling at Llanwrtyd Wells, World Gurning Championship at Egremont, Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Burning the Clocks in Brighton, 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow, Samhain Celtic festival (Halloween) at Derry, Horn Dance at Abbots Bromley and Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill.<ref name="stamp1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="stamp2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2020: Netflix released a documentary We are the Champions, which covers six bizarre events and competitions from across the world, starting with Cheese-Rolling at Cooper's Hill. The Cheese-Rolling follows Flo Early in her preparations for 2019 and her attempt to win the ladies' race for the fourth time.<ref name="netflix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2021: The game Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a special item called Double Gloucester cheese that is only available from 22 May to 31 May, the period when this event takes place.<ref name="animal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2023: The Longest Johns and El Pony Pisador released a joint album "The Longest Pony" which included "Wheels of Glory" as the opening track.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> This led to the band's, on their February 2025 Longest Pony tour, bringing along a wheel of Double Gloucester.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2025: A multiplayer PC game titled Cheese Rolling was released on Steam. Players control ragdoll medieval characters competing to catch a cheese wheel rolling down various steep slopes loosely modeled after Cooper's Hill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Coopers Edge