Annual cheese rolling competition in Brockworth

And they're off! Man in motorcycle leathers out in front, with shellsuited man well positioned Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Chris Anderson (centre), one of the eventual winners, stays close to the Double Gloucester, while superheroes Blokey Man and Man Who Looks A Bit Like A Wasp (right) take a tumble Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Oh, I say! Orange man is down! And facing the wrong way! Surely his chance of victory has gone for another year Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Die-hard fans at the bottom of the course. Maybe some of the lucky ones will get their pictures taken with their bruised and battered cheese-running heroes Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Paramedics stationed at the top: ever-alert to treat broken arms, sprained wrists, and dairy allergies Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

In some places the gradient of Cooper's Hill reaches 1:1, or 100%, as some people never say Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Just as the Fosbury Flop revolutionised the high jump, so 'the fade to right', 'the demi-star jump' and 'the backie' are revolutionising cheese running Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Going down Cooper's Hill head first (see bottom middle) is probably not advised Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Spectators share a joke, hopefully not at an injured cheese runner's expense Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

It's customary for cheese runners to come resplendent in all kinds of garb, including the obligatory mankini and leg warmers (far right) Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

In cheese running circles, the manoeuvre on the left is known as 'The Laughing Cow'. Pretty difficult to pull off, but this competitor does so with his own particular élan Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Some cheese runners like to camouflage themselves. Some like to camouflage themselves and bruise their coccyx, like this fellow Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

They can't bear to look: spectators look on with a mixture of shock, disbelief and goggle-eyed relish Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Chris Anderson, cheese runner extraordinaire, holds aloft the Cooper's Hill trophy. Like the Wimbledon runner's up plate, really, but with more rind Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images