Summary

  • The annual cheese rolling races, where competitors chase a 7lb Double Gloucester down Cooper's Hill, have featured multiple overseas winners

  • In the first race, German YouTuber Tom Kopke completes his hat-trick of successive wins, fending off a challenge from Chris Anderson

  • There was joy for the Anderson family however, as his son William, aged 11, won the first children's race

  • Competitors have come from all over the world, including Japan, the USA, Poland and France

  • The races are taking place on what is officially the hottest May day recorded in the UK

  • Where are you watching our cheese rolling stream from? Send us a photo via WhatsApp.

Cheese rolling - where are you watching?

Live Reporting

Edited by Zosia Eyres and Steve Mellen, with the help of the cheese rolling team at Cooper's Hill.

  1. That's a wrap

    We'll be ending our live coverage shortly.

    Thank you for following our reporting of the 2026 edition of the cheese rolling event. We hope you enjoyed it!

    You can read our round-up of all the action here.

  2. Winners come from all over the world

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Men running down the hill.Reuters

    The cheese rolling races have now officially finished, with spectators and competitors heading for the shade.

    Tom Kopke, from Germany, won the first downhill men's race - his third triumphant visit to Cooper's Hill in a row.

    The son of 23-time champion and Guinness World Record winner Chris Anderson, 11-year-old William, won the first children's uphill race, with Ariadne taking the girl's title.

    Niels, from the Netherlands, clinched the title in the second downhill men's race.

    The second children's uphill race was won by Xander, 16 and Dotty, 11.

    Alix Heugas, from France, continued the international theme when she took the women's title in the downhill race.

    Jamie, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, won the men's uphill race to take some local glory, with Ariel Dempsey winning it for the women.

    And, finally, Otto, from Florida in the United States, won the third and last downhill men's race.

  3. Did bubble wrap help influencer Joel's race?

    Did bubble wrap help influencer Joel?

  4. Desperately seeking shade

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Watchers of the event smile, while three dogs sit on a blanket with them.

    People - and their dogs - have been seeking shade to stay cool while watching the races.

    This comes as today is confirmed as the hottest day in May to ever be recorded in the UK. Stay hydrated everyone!

  5. Winner says he only came to watch

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Otto on his win in the final race in the cheese rolling

    Engineering student Otto says his original plan was just to watch the race.

    "Then I thought: If I'm going to come, I should run," he adds.

    Otto says he didn't think he would win but he tried to stay on his feet for as long as possible.

    Otto is holding up the cheese and smiling.

  6. 'My brother dared me to do it'

    Leigh Boobyer
    Live page reporter

    Lilly-Mae from Australia, who dressed as a banana, said she took part because her brother Theo dared her.

    "I though it was be pretty cool," she said.

    "I bought this banana costume so everyone back in Australia can see who I am.

    "I was a bit scared, I'd never seen the hill.

    This was my first time doing it. I'm proud. I just wanted to say I did it - it was fun."

  7. Florida man wins third race

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Otto, from Florida in the United States, wins the third men's race.

    Today has been a truly international affair with winners from Germany, the Netherlands, France and the US - as well as England.

    Who would have thought this Gloucestershire tradition would take over the world like this?

    Stay tuned for reaction from our last winner.

    Final cheese rolling race won by Florida man

  8. For the last time this year - on your marks, get set, GO

    Leigh Boobyer
    Live page reporter

    We're ahead of schedule and the last race of the day has started.

  9. 'Life is like a cheese race'

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Ariel is holding up the cheese

    Ariel Dempsey won the uphill race for the women.

    "I'm very hot, very sweaty," she says.

    "It's really not about winning the cheese but a celebration of spring and life.

    "Everyone thinks it's crazy. But really, I think in some sense, life is like a cheese race.

    "How often do we feel like we're tumbling down a hill?" Profound words from Cooper's Hill.

  10. Last race of the day coming up

    Leigh Boobyer
    Live page reporter

    And just like that, the final race of the day is approaching. What a whirlwind!

    The final run/tumble will be the third men's downhill race.

  11. Hottest cheese rolling ever?

    It has been confirmed that today is the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK, with the temperature reaching 32.9C at Heathrow.

    We're many miles to the west of England's biggest airport, but it's sweltering on Cooper's Hill too. Fair play to anyone who has climbed to the top.

  12. 'I've still got it at 34'

    Leigh Boobyer
    Live page reporter

    Mixed adults uphill race winner Jamie says: "I did it when I was about 16, the youth uphill back then. It's the first time since then, I've still got it at 34."

    "It was easier actually. I thought I was going to pass out, but I'm still alive," he adds.

    His wife and kids were in the crowd to see him win. Lovely.

  13. First adult winner from Gloucestershire

    Jamie, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, has won the men's uphill race.

    He is our first adult local winner this year - after wins from German, Dutch and French competitors.

  14. Watching the races in Australia

    Chloe Harcombe
    BBC News, Bristol

    A woman standing in front of a TV with a BBC stream of the Gloucestershire cheese rolling. She has her thumbs up and is smiling at the camera.

    The wacky cheese rolling race attracts fans from all over the world.

    Jo, Nathan and CC got in touch to say they are watching the action at their home in Beumaris in Victoria, Australia.

    "We love this and will be there in 2029," they said.

  15. Uphill race starts

    The men's adult uphill race has now started!

  16. 'The best strategy is to not have a strategy'

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    Alix is holding up her roll of cheese and is grinning.

    Alix Heugas, from France, was the winner of the women's race.

    "I found it was a great bucket list item to have. I heard about it when I was in sixth grade and I thought it was time to try it.

    "I think the best strategy is to not have a strategy.

    "I thought: I will start to run and when I trip, that's it, I will just armadillo it down."

    She added that she put volleyball pads on her elbows and knees.

  17. 'Backside' race

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    While Alix sped down, the women's downhill race saw today's longest time between the winner and the competitor who came in last place.

    A group of participants slid down the tail-end of Cooper's Hill on their bums, with reporter Andy Howard asking: "Is this the new backside race?".

    Hey - at least they did it!

  18. And the mouse wins the cheese!

    Leigh Boobyer
    Live page reporter

    Alix Heugas from France is our winner! And she was SO quick!

    Women's downhill race won by onesie mouse

  19. Women's race starts

    Off we go! The women's downhill race has officially started.

  20. Dressed for the occasion

    Chloe Harcombe
    Live page reporter

    A woman dressed in a mouse onesie. She is looking ahead and smiling.

    Alix Heugas has travelled from France to take part in the women’s downhill race.

    Despite the heat - which is believed to be about 29C - she is donning a onesie.

    “I figured since I was going to be a little silly and chase a cheese I might as well do it as a mouse,” she says.