Whitestone Cheese's finest will again be flung down a steep Southland hill early next year, closely followed by people of all ages in hot pursuit.
The 2010 Whitestone Cheese Rolling New Zealand event has been confirmed for Sunday, February 7.
It will again be held on the Henderson family farm in Wendon Valley, near the Southland township of Waikaka.
But the family is hinting the next event may be the last in its present format, because the main paddock is due to be ploughed later next year and will be unavailable for a period afterwards.
The Oamaru-based cheesemaker is donating a dozen 4kg wheels of its award-winning Windsor Blue cheese to be chased as it rolls down one of the property's steepest hills.
Celebrity rollers confirmed to date include Otago Daily Times editor Murray Kirkness, ice-skater Aimee Clement and fashion designer Andre Johnston from the Tamblyn label.
Organisers of the 2010 championships even hope to make the most of Southland's Ranfurly Shield win by having a "Ranfurly Shield roll" and hope the Log of Wood may make a special appearance.
Virginia Henderson, whose family farm hosts the event, said organisers were pondering the event's future due to the main paddock having to be ploughed.
Money raised from the cheese rolling helps support Otago and Southland families facing the challenges of autism.
