BELFAST — Who chases wheels of cheese down a hill of green grass, forcing competitors aside to grab the rolling slabs of yellow, and then victoriously holding them up before the cheering crowds? Plenty do, of all ages, girls and boys, men and women, and they are all intent on one goal: seizing a solid circle of cheddar that is speedily careening down the field.

It is why the annual Maine Celtic Celebration held every July in Belfast reserves Sunday afternoon for the popular event, and this year, the competition was robust in all age groups. Because there were so many entries with the different age groups, preliminary run-offs were required, which sent competitors tearing up the hill to seat themselves in folding metal chairs.

Those who got to the chairs first and ceremoniously sat were then able to chase the cheese. Those who did not, shuffled to the sidelines.

It’s an age-old tradition, and this New World Cheese Roll Championship draws participants from all over. The rules are pretty simple: Run after the rolling cheese wheel (all courtesy of State of Maine Cheese, in Rockport), grab it, and hold it... if you can. It’s not easy, and good humor is the name of the game.

“There’s luck on the bounce,” said Celtic Celebration President Bob MacGregor.

Cheese rolling dates back to the 1800s, and is hugely celebrated in Gloucestershire, England, where cheese wheels are rolled down steep inclines and the competition is fierce.

In Belfast, the races are more laid back, and the cheese is cheddar, “creamy cheddar,” according to race organizers. This is beneficial to the winner of the cheese wheel, because it is more edible.

“They won’t have to carve off the hard, natural rind to get to the great cheese inside,” said Cathe Morrill, owner of State of Maine Cheese. “All they need to do is remove the cloth and enjoy the delicious unwrapped cheese.”

The winners this year were:

Ages 5-8
Girls: Lily Case, Belfast
Boys: Cole Castro. Belfast

Ages 9-12
Girls: Ada Potter, Belfast, and Juliette Lowe, Deerfield, Massachusetts
Boys: Leo Feldman, Camden

Ages 13-18
Girls: Macy Turner, Royersford, Pennsylvania
Boys: Devon McLaughlin, Houlton

Ages 19-24
Women: Caitlin Phair, Frankfort
Men: Kent Bradstreet, Belfast

Ages 25-plus
Women: Rosie Hughes, Belfast
Dylan Connole, Dixmont 

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657