I'll chase the cheese - champion
Cheese rolling champion Chris Anderson said he will chase the cheese at Cooper’s Hill this year - even if the event is cancelled.
Last week, organisers announced they were forced to cancel the 200-year-old event due to health and safety fears.
-
Chris Anderson
But Chris, who has won the contest six times in the last seven years, said he will risk life and limb and take part even if it meant holding an unauthorised event in the May Bank Holiday.
The 22-year-old from Trent Road, Brockworth said: “Cheese rolling has always taken part since I was young and I just want it to keep going.
“There are hundreds of members on Facebook that say they will be going and there is a rugby team that have said they will be catchers at the bottom of the hill.
“The lady that makes the cheeses said we can have one, and on May 31 I will be going up there and doing it whatever happens.”
About 15,000 people from all over the world flock to the famous hill near Brockworth, to watch the event every May Bank Holiday.
Madcap contestants risked life and limb by throwing themselves down the 100ft drop in an attempt to catch the 8lb Double Gloucester cheese wheel.
Chris, who has a seven-month-old baby with girlfriend Sophie Bace, said that although the event is cancelled this year he thinks it won’t be scrapped for good.
He said: “It would be terrible if they didn’t have it - but I don’t think it will be cancelled permanently.
“There are so many people that want it to go-ahead that I think they will find a way of doing it next year or hopefully this year.
“It is such an amazing rush, I couldn’t imagine it not happening.”
Last night 6,560 people had joined the Facebook group to ‘bring back the cheese rolling’.
58 Comments
View all
by Rev. Richard Turk, The Reddings, Cheltenham
Monday, March 22 2010, 6:40AM
“''Chris Anderson'' - clearly you dont understand that being gay is a sin in the eyes of our Lord. The Bible makes this quite clear: Lev 18:22-23 "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." Lev 20:13 "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death." 1 Cor 6:9 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals"
So whilst I find your chosen way of life distasteful, I recognise that you have choosen to practice homosexuality in privacy, that is your free choice. But be certain that the Christian Bible condemns all such practices and God will judge you unfit for the kingdom of heaven if you continue to practice and openly promote homosexual sex.”
by MJJ, sittingdown
Sunday, March 21 2010, 8:25AM
“Giovanni,
cheese-rolling.co.uk isn't the official website of the organisers. I found cheeserolling.org.uk. This is the official one used by the organisers. Some useful up to date info here. Not just adverts and heresay.”
by Informed, Cheltenham
Saturday, March 20 2010, 5:44PM
“So, if you're injured at the unauthorised event who will look after you?
St. John Ambulance are on site for the official event because if you' are injured an ambulance wouldn't be able to get through the traffic and your treatment would be significantly delayed - good luck if you break your leg!”
by Giovanni, Gloucester
Saturday, March 20 2010, 10:30AM
“In recent years the event was cancelled in 1998, 2001 and 2003. Acording to the official cheese-rolling website, the committee themselves performed a cheese roll to maintian the unbroken tradition. Will they do the same this year?”
by Ade, coopers hill
Saturday, March 20 2010, 9:42AM
“I agree Brockite born & breed. I dont think these people have really thought about the bigger picture.
Chris, In fairness, it aint just you going up the hill, is it? I don't think he/she was having a go at you. They did say they admired you?
Maybe this has all got out of hand. Press will have a field day though.”