On a quest for glory, dozens of reckless racers chased a 3-kilogram wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the near-vertical Cooper’s Hill near the town of Gloucestershire, in southwestern England.

Cooper’s Hill, some 160 kilometres west of London, has been home to the cheese-rolling race since at least 1826.

The raucous, rough-and-tumble event often comes with safety concerns.

Few competitors manage to stay on their feet all the way down the hill, and this year many had to be helped, limping, from the course.

Canadian contestant Delaney Irving won the women’s race Monday, despite being briefly knocked unconscious.

Irving, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, said she would consider returning to the annual cheese-chasing competition next year to defend her title.

England’s Matt Crolla, winner on the men’s side, said the secret to taking part was “just being an idiot.”