BBC News, Gloucestershire<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A PhD student who made a last-minute decision to take part in a cheese-rolling competition has finally been given her missing edible trophy.<\/p>\n Ariel Dempsey was at a meeting with her supervisor in Oxford when she realised that, if she left at that moment, she could arrive at Cooper’s Hill in time for the women’s downhill Gloucestershire cheese-rolling race.<\/p>\n Ms Dempsey then also competed in the uphill race, only to win but not be awarded her cheese, as it had been left in a volunteer’s fridge.<\/p>\n Jem Wakeman, master of ceremonies, presented Ms Dempsey with her cheese on Monday, a week after her win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The centuries-old event sees competitors chase 7lb (3kg) Double Gloucester wheels down Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester.<\/p>\n Ms Dempsey, who is from the US state of Michigan, arrived at the hill as the women’s downhill race started and threw her belongings to a stranger.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old said it was “joyful” to run down Cooper’s Hill, but she then faced the prospect of collecting her belongings.<\/p>\n “They called an uphill race and I decided that might be a good way to get up the hill fast and, sure enough, I won it,” she said.<\/p>\n When her prize could not be found, some initially suspected the cheese had been stolen. All was later revealed when the wheel was discovered in a volunteer’s fridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Jem Wakeman has been explaining the rules to competitors and starting the races as master of ceremonies for more than 10 years.<\/p>\n Speaking about this year’s event, he said: “It was very good to watch from the top – there’s been lots of facepalms and some good fliers.<\/p>\n “Everyone does it at their own risk. I’ve done it myself and been injured, it’s part and parcel of the game.”<\/p>\n![\"BBC](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ae1c\/live\/bf7d65b0-406b-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp\")
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