BROCKWORTH, England (AP) — A German content creator claimed victory once again at one of Britain’s most eccentric sporting events by tumbling his way down a steep hill.
Tom Kopke from Munich retained his title at the famous Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling competition, where participants throw themselves down a dangerously steep 200-yard (180-meter) slope in pursuit of a rolling wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Kopke was the first to cross the finish line just behind the cheese.
“Everyone at the top said they’d take my title, but it’s still mine,” said a triumphant Kopke, shirtless and holding the 7-pound (3-kilogram) cheese. “I put everything on the line for this. This cheese is mine — two years in a row.”
The event, which is held every year during the late-May public holiday near Gloucester, approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of London, has a history that stretches back over 200 years. Thousands of spectators gather in the surrounding woods or watch from the base of the hill, as thrill-seekers from around the globe chase glory — and often risk injury.
The combination of speed and gravity frequently results in dramatic falls, with injuries ranging from sprained ankles to broken bones and concussions.
In the women’s race, Londoner Ava Sender Logan emerged victorious, tumbling down the hill with multiple flips before crossing the line.
“I’ll probably feel sore tomorrow,” she admitted. “The hill felt endless, and I did hit my head. But I made it — and that’s what counts.”