| Where: | Tetbury, Gloucestershire on Gumstool Hill |
| When: | Spring Bank Holiday Monday (end of May) |
| Time: | 1pm onwards |
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
In 2027 it should be on Monday May 31st. The event made a welcome return in 2024 after a break of several years.
Anyone can enter on the day but you must be there before noon to register. Follow the signs for parking – which is very well organised.
Click here for the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/tetburywoolsack/
Click here for the event website : http://www.tetburywoolsack.co.uk/
Leave a Reply