Brave Runners Barrel Down Hill in Pursuit of Cheese as Quirky English Tradition Returns

Brave downhill runners risked it all for a wheel of cheese during the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll in Brockworth, England, on June 5, as the annual event returned after two cancellations due to COVID-19.

Footage from the event shows spectators chanting, “Cheese, cheese, cheese!” before the wheel is rolled down the hill in one of the men’s races.

Local media reported that runners turned up from far and wide, with some contestants hailing from Belgium and South Korea.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll, an annual tradition, was canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year marked the event’s post-pandemic return.

Runners race in heats of 25, in both uphill and downhill races. Credit: Anonymous via Storyful

Video transcript

[CHANTING "CHEESE! CHEESE!"]

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN BACKGROUND]

- Come on!

- Woo!

- Oh, [MUTED]. Whoa.

- Do it, Henry! Do it, Henry! Yes! He ran straight to the rugby players.

[LAUGHING]

- Come on! Go-- oh! Oh, [MUTED] He's going to win.

- Oh, my god. Oh, my god!

- Whoa! Go on, Anna! Go on! Go on! You're nearly there!

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- Yeah. God. You did great!