Robert RouseyGot Cheese?
May 16th 2008 13:08
So it seems that another Random Sport of the Day is about due (I hope no-one is noticing that the random sport of the day does not actually happen daily, but rather weekly or even less. Who would want to read a blog called ‘random sport of the week or even less’? Clearly no-one)
Have you ever reached into the fridge for that fantastic wheel of cheese that’s been hiding there for weeks, only to find that it slips out of your hands on the way out and rolls away? The race to catch it before the five second rule expires is quite amazing to watch. I have my suspicions that this is the origin of today’s sport, although I’m probably wrong.
As you might have guessed, today’s sport is Cheese-Rolling. And you would be correct if you guessed that the sport of Cheese-Rolling involves rolling a wheel of cheese down a hill and chasing after it. The most notable Cheese-Rolling competition is held at Coopers Hill in the Cotswalds region of England where they roll a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the largest hill in the area. The first person to reach the bottom of the hill (after the cheese) is declared the winner, and is given the cheese as a prize.
Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? Chase after some cheese down a hill, run the fastest and win the cheese, then feast on cheesy snacks. However, Cheese-Rolling is actually fraught with danger. Injuries such as sprained ankles are to be expected, but broken bones and concussions also frequently occur. In 2005, one of the four races was delayed whilst the ambulances returned from the hospital; they had been transporting casualties from the previous race. The spectators aren’t even safe, in 1997 the cheese rolled down the hill so fast that it hit and knocked over some poor unsuspecting soul.
Still interested? The next official event at Cooper’s Hill is at midday on May 26th and entry is once again free. However, you don’t have to be at Coopers Hill to enjoy a spot of cheese rolling, all it really requires is a wheel of cheese, a hill and some competitors. So go on, have a Cheese-Rolling competition in your street this weekend. I dare you.
Have you ever reached into the fridge for that fantastic wheel of cheese that’s been hiding there for weeks, only to find that it slips out of your hands on the way out and rolls away? The race to catch it before the five second rule expires is quite amazing to watch. I have my suspicions that this is the origin of today’s sport, although I’m probably wrong.
As you might have guessed, today’s sport is Cheese-Rolling. And you would be correct if you guessed that the sport of Cheese-Rolling involves rolling a wheel of cheese down a hill and chasing after it. The most notable Cheese-Rolling competition is held at Coopers Hill in the Cotswalds region of England where they roll a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the largest hill in the area. The first person to reach the bottom of the hill (after the cheese) is declared the winner, and is given the cheese as a prize.
Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? Chase after some cheese down a hill, run the fastest and win the cheese, then feast on cheesy snacks. However, Cheese-Rolling is actually fraught with danger. Injuries such as sprained ankles are to be expected, but broken bones and concussions also frequently occur. In 2005, one of the four races was delayed whilst the ambulances returned from the hospital; they had been transporting casualties from the previous race. The spectators aren’t even safe, in 1997 the cheese rolled down the hill so fast that it hit and knocked over some poor unsuspecting soul.
Still interested? The next official event at Cooper’s Hill is at midday on May 26th and entry is once again free. However, you don’t have to be at Coopers Hill to enjoy a spot of cheese rolling, all it really requires is a wheel of cheese, a hill and some competitors. So go on, have a Cheese-Rolling competition in your street this weekend. I dare you.
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Comment by Harry
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Comment by Anonymous
yeah Harry, anyone can compete, so i think you should too. Full details at Really Long Link