A Kiwi man who won a top prize at Britain’s notorious cheese rolling competition is recovering in good spirits, but says he won’t be back next year to defend his title.
Byron Smith, who clinched victory in the final men’s downhill race at Cooper’s Hill yesterday, told Breakfast he suffered “a broken rib, collapsed lung and a little bit of internal bleeding” after taking “a bit of a tumble” during the event.
The cheese winner was in good spirits during the interview from hospital, saying his injuries were “nothing too serious”.
“Emotionally, I’m feeling really good, but physically, I took a bit of a tumble obviously doing the run,” Smith said.
The 33-year-old New Zealander, who lives in London, said he was on the mend and that “they’re gonna let me out tomorrow hopefully”.
Smith said he had earlier planned to defend his title next year but has since promised his wife, who is a nurse, that it is “definitely not happening” again.
He revealed his motivation for entering the race came from watching former All Black Mark Ellis compete and win about 20 years ago.
“I thought maybe I could follow in his footsteps,” he said.
After placing second in last year’s event, Smith was determined to claim the top prize this time.
“I had to come back and do one better,” he said.
When asked about his tactical approach to the race, Smith explained: “You just run as fast as you can, and if you fall over, get back up faster than anyone else does, and then maybe have a chance.”
Smith said adrenaline carried him through the tumble.
“When I got to the bottom and I started doing some interviews, it took a couple of minutes before I could even talk,” he said.
His prize includes the wheel of Double Gloucester cheese, weighing four kilos, and which he plans to share once he recovers.
The annual Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling competition involves competitors chasing a wheel of cheese down a 180-metre steep hill near Gloucester.
The contest, traditionally held on the late-May public holiday, about 145km west of London, dates back at least two centuries, maybe longer.
It’s attended by thousands, who pack the woods flanking the hill or take cover behind fences at the bottom, as competitors from around the world risk serious injury in the hope of glory. There are multiple races during the event.
