Cheese rolling anyone?

May 30, 2003 3:21 PM

Cheese rolling Of all the weird and wonderful things I've read about this week, this really takes the cheese.
posted by lunadust (15 comments total)

This is still hard for me to take seriously — one of the original trailers for Spinal Tap was a cheese rolling short film. That's all I have running through my head when I read these stories, and when I first saw them, I would have sworn that they were a hoax. Maybe that promo was more accurate than I knew...
posted by djwudi at 3:32 PM on May 30, 2003

What possesses anyone to throw themselves down one of the county's steepest hills in pursuit of a Double Gloucester cheese?

Oh, for God's sake, isn't it obvious!? Anyone who's spent any time in this country wouldn't need to ask.
posted by jamespake at 4:43 PM on May 30, 2003

the photo gallery brings it to life. white people rolling down a hill. truly weird.
posted by scarabic at 5:40 PM on May 30, 2003

whoopsie - try this link instead
posted by scarabic at 5:41 PM on May 30, 2003

white people rolling down a hill

To be fair, I think the racial makeup of the participants has more to do with local demographics than any political motivation. I could be wrong.
posted by jamespake at 5:51 PM on May 30, 2003

If you buy/rent the Spinal Tap collectors edition DVD, it includes the cheese rolling festival footage.

I always assumed it was a joke made up by Christopher Guest et al.
posted by mathowie at 5:54 PM on May 30, 2003

Cancelled due to safety team dealing with algerian earthquake.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 6:27 PM on May 30, 2003

Thanks lunadust, I love these odd local fests.

Doctor Danger was a participant and he gives a good account of the goings on - the site has lots of photos, an interview entitled "I broke my friggen ankle" and lots of tips for runners.
posted by madamjujujive at 6:30 PM on May 30, 2003

Mattie, why not visit the sceptered isle? This is the least of it.
I cast aspersions in the direction of MS IE6. Boo boo. You stole my post. *makes arcane hand signals*
Anyhoo, I am sure you'd have offers for pyjama parties/bunks if you ventured o'er yonder. NB Matt hates being called 'Mattie', unless you are his mum, in which case ignore this.
*falls of chair* Do you know what time it is here? / shouty
posted by asok at 6:39 PM on May 30, 2003

Sceptred Isle. Link
*looks confused*
*stops presuming*
posted by asok at 6:44 PM on May 30, 2003

Cancelled due to safety team dealing with algerian earthquake.

Looks like they had to cut the cheese.

* Down10 ducks flying tomatoes
posted by Down10 at 11:19 PM on May 30, 2003

Thanks so much, lunadust; this is my favorite FPP in a long time. The cheese chasing is over so fast, though, that I don't know I'd travel all the way across the ocean just to see it. (I do still want to come see the Ba game sometime, though.)

"Or perhaps ancient fertility rites are the origin of the festivities."

Sex with Pikachu is bad enough. But having sex with the cheese? (P.S. I hope they never use Venezuelan Beaver Cheese at this event.)
posted by lelilo at 11:20 PM on May 30, 2003

I grew up in Gloucestershire.. That hill is more like a cliff - it's hard to climb up, let alone descend at speed. 90% of participants tend to fall within the first ten seconds and make their way down in ways reminiscent of the cheese itself.

As well as a large medical team, the event requires a contingent of Gloucester rugby players to catch finishing contestants and throw them aside in case they can't slow down by themselves and fall down the next significant drop into the back gardens of local residents.

Everyone who participates, without exception, is a nutter.

(And the demographic is explained by the fact that no-one except the very very misguided would choose to migrate to Gloucestershire, white or otherwise - along with the events nature as a crazy dangerous tradition.)
posted by cell at 12:23 AM on May 31, 2003

i would do it. just pass me a pint and point me to the hill.
posted by joedan at 6:35 AM on May 31, 2003

lelilo, while you'r here you could also try out bog-snorkelling, plus mountain bike bog-snorkelling. Or there's gurning, where it helps if you start ugly. Pancake races you may already be familiar with, but the original is annually at Olney.
Sadly, you've muissed this years marbles world championship.
posted by biffa at 10:49 AM on June 1, 2003