This year’s contest looked particularly hazardous, as it had rained continuously the night before. It appeared nearly impossible for contestants to stay on their feet down the 200 meter slope — go here to watch the video, courtesy of the BBC.
The winner of the first race at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, a 19- year-old local man, was carried off wearing a neck brace. In all, ambulance volunteers treated 19 injuries.
You can’t say these people aren’t dedicated to their cheese.
I think Wisconsin should piggyback on this famous cheese rolling event and stage a celebration of our own. God knows we’ve got the hills to conduct such a test — just take a drive in southwest Wisconsin and you’ll have no problem finding a 200 meter slope with a 1:1 gradient.
Since we’re not overly known for making a double gloucester, we could a roll a different cheese instead — there are several Wisconsin cheesemakers crafting artisan cheeses modeled after English traditional bandaged cheddar, including Brunkow Cheeses’ Fayette Creamery Avondale Truckle or Willi Lehner’s Bandaged Cheddar — both of these cheeses have taken the spotlight recently in the national media and would be a worthy opponent of any cheese chaser.
Besides, how better to celebrate the end to a very long winter than chasing a wheel of cheese down a grassy slope? Bring it on!