Olney Pancake Race

The original pancake race was back in Olney town centre on Tuesday 21st February 2012.

The race was won by the youngest entrant, 18 year old Devon Byrne who finished in just 58.5 seconds.

After crossing the finishing line, Devon was given the traditional kiss of peace by Ken Noon, the Verger from the church.

Only women are allowed to take part, and 24 local ladies ran this year including the oldest, Isabel Ager-Righinioti at 80 years old.

"We should be thankful that we still have some good old-fashioned English traditions remaining and celebrate them," - Ian Ford, who organised the event

As well as the main race there was also a series of races for local school children.

MKFM was there with our mascot, Samantha The Panther.  Did we snap you? Check out the photos below...

General Gallery

Photos With Samantha The Panther

History

Dating back more than five hundred years, the event is held on Shrove Tuesday each year. The course is 415 yards long and is run from the Market Place to the Church at 11.55 a.m. Participants are women who must have lived in Olney for at least 3 months.

The competitors wear the traditional costume of a housewife, including a skirt, apron and head covering and of course they had to carry a frying pan containing a pancake. The winner, on crossing the line, must toss her pancake and she is then greeted by the verger with the traditional kiss of peace. The race is immediately followed by a Shriving service in the Parish Church when the official Olney and Liberal prizes are presented.

No one is quite certain how the world famous Pancake Race at Olney originated. One story tells us of a harassed housewife, hearing the shriving bell, dashing off to the Church still clutching her frying pan containing a pancake. Another that the gift of pancakes may have been a form of bribe to the Ringer, or Sexton that he might ring the bell the sooner; for the ringing of the Church bell was the signal for the beginning of the day’s holiday and enjoyment, no less than to summon the people to the shriving service at which they would be shriven of their sins before the long Lenten fast.

Traditional declares that the race was first run in the year 1445, pancakes at that time being a popular dish and receiving the royal favour. It was run on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, and the whole day was given over to a festival of celebrations, pranks and pastimes, which formed a part of the last fling celebrations.

The has race continued through the centuries, and while many other local customs died, and the race itself may have lapsed many times, such lapses were never so long as to be entirely forgotten by the womenfolk of Olney. It is known to have taken place during the troublesome times of the Wars of the Roses.