When Peter Mackenzie-Shaw from Hereford surveyed the washout Bank Holiday Monday weather he decided not to take the family to the seaside – but instead headed for the annual cheese race at Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire.
A few hours later he literally landed at the bottom of the 1:1 hill, having won the second men’s race – and a 16lbs Double Gloucester cheese, value £90 – after a spur-of-the-moment entry and at his first attempt.
“When I arrived I thought ‘I’m here, why not give it a go’, so I joined a long queue of men waiting to enter the second race.
“At the end of the first race we saw one chap being carried off by the medics on a spinal board – at which point about half of the queue suddenly melted away, leaving me at the front and ready to go.
“The start is like a cliff face, and you basically throw yourself off. I chose a route that included some small hills on the way down, which tended to break my falls and mean I stayed upright after landing – although I tumbled about 16 times to reach the bottom”, said Peter, a sports development officer with Worcester City Council who has lived with wife Clare, baby Alfie and daughter Ellie in Hereford for the past 11 years.
A native of Leeds he will celebrate his 33rd birthday next week, with only a few bumps and bruises to show after chasing a 7lbs cheese down the 200-metre sheer drop at Coopers Hill.
“I survived without any breakages and I’m really glad I did it. It’s cheered me up after Leeds lost their League 1 final play-off at the weekend.
“I’m not really a cheese lover, but I will be now after winning a large sample as a prize”, said Peter, who confessed that his main training activity was playing darts and pool at Hereford’s Horse and Groom pub.
