Posted on 03/14/2010 4:01:06 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
A 200-year old traditional festival of rolling the cheese down a steep hill has been canceled following rising fears over the safety of the participants.
The age-old festival saw participants chase down large blocks of Double Gloucester cheeses down the steep side of Cooper's Hill with injuries being a common side effect of the event.
However the rising popularity of the event means that a large number of people gather to watch the chase with last year’s event boasting of a 15,000 strong spectators. The regional police contacted the organizing committee and advised them to cancel this year’s event after expressing concern over the safety of both the participants and the spectators.
“We have had to cancel on the advice of the police and local authorities this year because of the issues of health and safety and other aspects. As well as concerns about the safety of the crowd and the competitors, local landowners were also worried by the amount of damage done by people climbing over fences and that sort of thing”, said Richard Jefferfies of the organising committee.
Just think of the job creation opportunities here, if we can only get some stimulus money to sponsor Gubment Cheeze Rolling all over the Country...
We used to have fun.
But it was decided it was too dangerous.
You see?
I will miss all the “traditional” and “cultural” things that seem to go with countries traditions. We won’t have any of the old ways pretty soon. Although, I do object to the running of the bulls. Apparently that is not too hazardous. I would rather chase a ball of cheese than have a bull chasing me.
It’s a shame they are stopping a 200-year-okd tradition that sounds gouda to me.
What about those guys at the bottom of the hill who were stopping the human rollers?!!! That was hilarious!
So, a few people got creamed...
“What’s a few injured or dead peasants when compared to the entertainment value for m’Lord?”
Exactly! That’s what I thought, LOL!
And running with the bulls! Heck, even that drunkard Hemmingway did it and survived.
I guess the key to these ‘sports’ is to be really, really drunk, LOL!
Looks like the Amazing Race got there just in time, then.
For a close-up look at the tradition, by coincidence I note Food Network is rerunning their “Glutton for Punishment” episode on this exact topic in about 24 hours - check your local listings and DVR it for posterity!
Do-gooders gone wild.
(From the pictures on the park website, I dont think they want to promote such behavior anymore. Todays kids are so fragile doncha know...)
Hi! Haven’t ‘seen’ you in a while. :)
As a kid it was VERY important to not throw yourself down the hill @ Boerner that ended in the Rose Garden, LOL! :)
Ah the memories that brings back.
I live in Indiana now but a few years back I took my daughter to Boerner so she too could roll down the hill. Some traditions must be maintained.
(She had a blast of course)
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