A 25-YEAR-OLD from Sheepscombe has claimed the title for women’s downhill cheese rolling competition for the second time.

Florence Early, who now lives in Berlin, ran, rolled and flipped down Cooper’s Hill near Cranham in the annual event held during the Spring Bank Holiday.

Giving advice on her technique, Florence, who also won the race eight years ago, said: “I think too many people try and run down and not fall over but that’s not the way to do it.”

Florence, who was yards ahead of everyone else taking part in the race, took about 10 seconds to make it from the top to the bottom of the hill plunging into the arms of two waiting stewards and landing in a heap.

Although a bit battered and bruised she had no injuries to speak of. Her brother, whose 30th birthday she was back in the country celebrating, came third in his race.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is traditionally organised by and for the people who live in the village of Brockworth but now people from all over the world take part.

It involves competitors chasing an eight-pound Double Gloucester cheese down a steep hill and is almost impossible to remain on foot for the descent.

Due to the incline there are usually a number of injuries.