Tetbury Woolsack Race

Every Spring Bank Holiday Monday, competitors struggle up Gumstool Hill in Tetbury carrying sacks of wool on their backs. Tetbury was a centre of the wool trade in the middle ages and the event celebrates this heritage; the race was revived  in the 1970s but reputedly has earlier origins with young men showing off their strength to the girls . The woolsacks weigh 60 pounds/25kg for men and 35 pounds/15kg for women and they must be carried down a steep hill which has a gradient of 25 per cent in places  (and in most of the races they have to go up the hill as well!). There are also stalls and entertainment for the crowds and the course has a much-needed pub at either end of the 240 yard course.

Helpful Hints

The event made a welcome return in 2024 after a break of several years- in 2025 it should be on Monday May 26th.

Anyone can enter on the day – modest fee of £5 for individuals when we visited (extra for the team events)- but you must be there before noon to register. Follow the signs for parking – very well organised in 2015 and cost £4 per vehicle.

Click here for the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/tetburywoolsack/

Click here for the event website : http://www.tetburywoolsack.co.uk/