Coopers Hill Cheese Race

The historic Coopers Hill races, at which dozens of devil-may-care participants run down a one-in-two slope in pursuit of a runaway Double Gloucester cheese, have been running for 200 years on a Spring Bank Holiday afternoon and have always been free.

However, organisers say that the event has become too popular for its own good, citing the record attendance of two years ago that caused traffic chaos and health and safety fears.  Officials were so concerned that last year’s event was cancelled, prompting locals to hold their own race.

The Cheese Rolling Committee is now transforming the race into a two-day festival in June costing £20 for adults and £15 for children, saying the charge is necessary to cover the cost of health and safety measures such as fencing and security staff.  However, the backlash has prompted the race to be cancelled once again. A cheese rolling committee spokesbod said:

"'Since we announced an entry fee, we have been bombarded with so much hostility and criticism, much of it at a personal level, including accusations of profiteering.  People have been spat at in the street, received verbal abuse in shops and at school gates and there has even been talk of bricks through windows and houses being burned down."

I'm not surprised- from free to twenty quid?  Someone is surely taking the piss. 


This is the second year the event has been cancelled.  Last year, health and safety fears prompted the event to be called off after 15 000 spectators turned up in 2009, three times more than can be catered for.