This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A champion chaser has broken the record for the most cheeses won in the annual cheese rolling race in Gloucestershire.

Chris Anderson, 30, has taken home 21 Double Gloucester cheeses over the past 14 years. He broke the record held by Stephen Gyde after winning the first of this year’s three men’s downhill races.

Anderson left the other contestants trailing as he sprinted, tripped and tumbled down Cooper’s Hill in the village of Brockworth.

However, he will not be tucking into his latest prize, an 8lb double Gloucester, as he only likes cheddar.

Speaking afterwards, Anderson said: “The kid next to me was pulling my shirt all the way down. I’ve got nothing to prove now, I’m happy. There was a bit more pressure this year as there were a few more locals running and as we saw one of them was a bit dirty.”

Play Video 0:31 Participants take a tumble in the annual cheese rolling race - video

He said the secret of his success was to “just run and try and stay on your feet”. It has not always been quite so simple, however; Anderson tore his left calf muscle this year, sustained a broken ankle in 2005 and bruised kidneys in 2010.

Aa soldier with 1st Batallion, The Rifles, Anderson dedicated his victories to his wife’s nephew Arthur Bace, who has a rare life-limiting condition.

He will auction his double Gloucesters for Joseph’s Goal, a charity set up to fund research into nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Some competitors travelled from across the world to take part in the races, which attracted TV crews from around Europe and thousands of spectators.

Rebel cheese rollers have been staging their own unofficial event after health and safety concerns caused the official competition to be cancelled in 2010. The cheese is chased 200 metres down the one-in-two gradient hill.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Australian Nathan Anstey takes a tumble in his ‘budgie smugglers’. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

Among the competitors this year was Nathan Anstey, 30, an Australian from Melbourne, who took part wearing just a pair of “budgie smuggler” swimming trunks.

Anstey said: “It’s just unbelievable. Last year was the first time I did it and I knew I had to come back. It’s a no-brainer. It’s the most exhilarating thing you can do.”