Cheese Rolling Explainer ?

What is Cheese Rolling ?
Cheese-Rolling is an annual event held on the Spring Bank Holiday at Cooper's Hill, near Gloucester in England. Participants race down the 200-yard or 180 meter long hill after a round of Double Gloucester cheese is sent rolling down it. This ceremony 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 even then it was apparent that the event was an old tradition, and it is believed to be at least six hundred years old. The cheese currently used in the event is 9 pound or 4-kilogram Double Gloucester, a hard cheese traditionally made in a circular shape. Each is protected for the rolling by a wooden casing round the side, and 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. Due to the steepness and uneven surface of Cooper's Hill, there are usually a number of injuries each year. A first aid service is provided by the local Saint John Ambulance from the Gloucester Divisions at the bottom of the hill. Members of the local rugby club volunteer their services by acting as catchers for any participants who lose their balance and also are on hand to carry down any casualties requiring first aid who do not reach the bottom.
The Champ Chris Anderson is a groundworker and a British Army veteran, best known for winning the annual cheeserolling at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire a record 23 times. Anderson first competed in the annual cheese rolling in 2004 at the age of 17 and came second. He won his first race in 2005 and beat the record. Anderson believes that the secret to winning the cheese rolling is to stay on your feet and not fall over. However, footage of him winning the cheeserolling reveals that he does in fact fall over, but has a particular talent for getting up swiftly, propelling himself down the hill in a single seamless movement while fallers behind roll multiple times before coming to a stop.

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