Cheese Rolling On Indoor Snow In Manchester
Cheese Rolling On Indoor Snow In Manchester
Published : 27-Oct-2013 08:16
One of Britain's most eccentric pastimes took an unexpected twist as daredevils took part in the world's first Winter Cheese Rolling Championships on indoor snow at Chill Factore in Manchester.
A British tradition since the 15th Century which draws thousands to the village of Stilton, Chester and the infamous Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire every year, its latest evolution saw hoards of adrenaline junkies throw themselves down a 180m indoor ski slope in the hope of catching the 8lb wheel of Cheshire Cheese.
Unlike any other tournament witnessed before, this was the first time that the great British sport has ever been performed on snow. With the wheel reaching speeds of up to 40mph, contestants chased the cheese on skis or snowboards and grappled down the piste, in order to secure the title of the world's first Winter Cheese Rolling Champion.
After tussling with fellow competitors, David Chapman (33) from Blackpool was crowned champion and secured his name in British cheese rolling history. Along with the title, David also took home the illustrious trophy which tradition dictates is the wheel of Cheshire Cheese used during the competition.
The event was staged to mark the Ski & Snowboard Show's arrival in Greater Manchester this weekend (25 – 27 October).
"With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics only a few months away, there's even more excitement about the 13/14 Ski season ahead, and one of the missions of the Ski and Snowboard Show is to make skiing just as much a British pastime as something as traditional as Cheese Rolling," said Ski & Snowboard Show Marketing Manager, Suzi Sibthorpe.
Skiers, snowboarders and cheese fans alike risked life and limb to compete in the inaugural tournament which organisers, rather optimistically, hope might one day become an official Winter Olympic sport.
Commentating on his heroic title, David Chapman said; "It feels awesome to have won. I've raced my mates plenty of times down the slopes before, but never after a wheel of cheese!"
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