Middle Earthlings Break Bones Chasing Bree Cheese

via The Bree Free Press

BREE - Contestants in a traditional Bree cheese-rolling competition broke bones and took skin off knees and elbows Monday in their pursuit of a giant piece of fragrant Bree cheese down a steep hill. The competition, in which participants hurl themselves 640-feet down a hill after an eight-pound piece of the stinky cheese, has been celebrated for centuries in Barrow Downs, southeast of Bree. The race is thought to originate from a heathen festival to welcome the spring. The first person to follow the cheese across the line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese and a small gold prize.

Many of the famous Tolkien Baseball Teams attended Monday's event and the local ambulance service reported three hobbits and one elf were taken to hospital with suspected fractured limbs, and 18 various orcs, hobbits, dwarves and elves were treated for bruises and abrasions.

Hobbit Begrin Starsley, shortstop for the Grey Havens Stars, suffered a bruised hip, and was seen limping after the festivities. Dwarf, Noilin "Slick" Ringcrusher, left fielder for the Bree Cheese team, was injured while running after the cheese.

"Ow, Ow....I wanted it for to celebrate a new season," he said as he clutched his already purple knee. "Oh, my manager is gonna kill me."

Orc, Mohair "Mo" Catsquisher 2nd Baseman for the Mirkwood Marauders was seen falling head over heels chasing the round stinky cheese. Geogast Febrilad, catcher, for the Carrock Bears was also among the wounded in the festivities.

Roim ‘the Old' Leatherleaf, Mayor of Michel Delving who won one of four bree cheese rolling races contested Monday, was taken to hospital on a stretcher, clutching his winning slab of stinky cheese to his chest.

"The pain was worth it," said Roim. "This cheese is going straight in a cupboard when I get home. It's definitely not for eating."

Organizer Bidoc 'Headstrong' Digger of Westmarch said Monday's event ran smoothly and injuries were down on previous years.

"It's a good part of the local heritage and a tradition we would like to keep going," Headstrong said. "Besides, Bree Cheese has been such an outstanding sponsor, donating the cheeses for these games, every year. It has everyone having a lot of great times with the families, after all family is the important part of life!"

Posted at June 6, 2005 07:43 AM | more from Bree