Pictures

1.

Thousands of people ventured to Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire on Bank Holiday Monday to watch the world famous cheese rolling competition.

2.

Competitors chased 8lb of Double Gloucester 200 yards down Cooper’s Hill at Brockworth.

3.

The wacky event has been celebrated for centuries but the official event was cancelled after more than 15,000 spectators turned up in 2009.

4.

Since then it has been held unofficially and roads up to two-and-a-half miles around the slope are closed by the council to allow for the crowds.

5.

This year’s competition was won by Josh Shepherd, 19, from Brockworth – but remarkably he doesn’t like cheese so doesn’t know what to do with his prize.

6.

Four large cheese wheels and three smaller ones were used for this year’s event.

7.

The second men’s race was won by Ryan Fairley, 24, also from Brockworth.

8.

The cheesy event has a big following around the world.

9.

Another local, Lucy Townsend, 17, from Brockworth, won the women’s race for a third consecutive year.

10.

Some competitors had travelled from Spain, Canada, Japan and the Netherlands to take part in the series of madcap races.

11.

Australian Sheldon Ronald, 20, from Melbourne was the winner of the final downhill race.

12.

The race certainly produced some quirky pictures.

13.

Unsurprisingly it’s not unusual for people to get injured in the competition.