The Great Gloucestershire Cheese Roll!

This is hilarious! Never heard of this until today, but I just saw it on TV.

Apparently this is a huge tradition in Gloucestershire and has been going on for like 100 years or something like that. There is just MASSIVE steep hill and they roll a wheel of cheese down the hill, which is subsequently chased by dozens of people, most of them wearing costumes or ridiculous clothing. There is a team of rugby players at the bottom to stop them as they come barreling down this hill, and apparently every year dozens of people are sent to the hospital while bravely "chasing the cheese."

What do you guys think of this? :laugh: Has anybody in the UK ever been to this event to spectate or participate?

 

I've never done it but I enjoy watching it. You'd have to be totally insane to take part, so many people break bones and dislocate joints and loads of other horrible stuff. It it quite funny though.

 

LOL! That was awesome to watch.
I lol'd so hard at the guy in black @ 0:33, took a huge leap.
Also the guy at 2:23 must've caught quite a hit.

It's possible is it not to break a neck doing this?

 

This is one of the strangest traditions I've ever seen. It looks crazy though, the people who build up speed then fall directly on their face must be the bravest people. Anyway, there are alot of people who look like they are purposely rolling. IS the objective to get down as fast as possible? or roll down as fast as possible?

Looks fun

 

I believe the objective is actually to catch the cheese. So everybody is chasing the cheese down the hill, and I guess they do it however they possibly can

The guy in black at 0:33 is my favourite as well :laugh:

 

Weird. Seems impossible. The cheese flies down like a rocket.

 

I don't think you're supposed or even able to catch it when its speeding, just have to be the first one down the hill to win.

 

I get that...but then...what's the point of the cheese? also why is it named cheese roll? This is interesting, makes me want to do some research.

 

And this is why people pay so much taxes towards healthcare . I think it would be crazy fun. I'd try to bring one of those huge bubbles that fit one person to see if they could stop me .

 

From what I heard on the TV, it is apparently some tradition that has been happening for years and years. I am not entirely sure what the whole significance of the cheese wheel is, but that makes it so much funnier haha.

If you do any research on it, make sure to post back here because I haven't bothered reading up about it yet. Too busy watching the mega wipe outs from the cheese chasers on Youtube.

 

lmfao i coudn't stop laughing. I'm pretty sure you need to go to this and have someone record it, and make it an anual thing ahahaha. It seems like it would be easier tho if you had goooood balance.

 

I did some research, however, I couldn't find much. The reason is not clearly mentioned. Also, the creation date is not 100% exact. A few websites say that it was already an old tradition since the 1800's.

Very interesting tradition indeed.

- edit -

more of this article here, if you're interested: http://www.thecircumference.org/coopers-hill-cheese-rolling

 

Haha! Obviously a "group of geniuses" were behind the idea

Interesting article though, thanks for posting! Can't believe I've never heard of this before.

 

haha, nice find I have always wanted to go and chase the cheese but it must hurt really back if you roll. I've actually done that once, When I was five I sprinted down and hill went tumbling when I hit the bottom I couldn't breath for like thirty seconds.

 

You sprinted down that particular hill?

Or do you just mean a big hill in general. Either way, once you pick up the speed and momentum flying down a huge hill like that, it is very hard to just suddenly stop yourself. You pretty much have to keep going until you hit the bottom lol.

 

I just can't stop watching this over and over hahaha