Olney Pancake Race 2009.jpg
A snapshot of Race winner Jane Hughes (in the red apron) as she leads the Pancake Race at Olney, 24th February 2009. Well done Jane.
Some details about the race.
According to tradition the Pancake Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire, England, was first run in the year 1445. It was run on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent. As I understand it the race continued over the centuries including through the Wars of The Roses. there were lapses but the race was never forgotten.
The race leaflet states that the Vicar of Olney, Cannon Ronald Collins, revived the race in 1948 after finding old photographs of the event from before World War Two.
In 1950 the town of Liberal in Kansas set up a similar event and the two towns now compete annually with prizes being exchanged between them.
There are few rules:
Contestants must have lived in the town of Olney for at least 3 months immediately prior to the event.
They must be women of at least 18 years of age.
The traditional costume of the housewife is worn including a skirt head cover and an apron, (contestants need not be married).
At the start the contestants have to toss their pancakes and the winner has to do so again before being declared the winner.
All in all it is a great day out and well worth a visit on a Shrove Tuesday. The main race starts at 1155am.
Please don't take my ramblings as gospel (I openly admit to having plagiarised several notes to inform you), if you are really interested in Olney visit the town's web site at
Olney Pancake Race 2009.jpg
A snapshot of Race winner Jane Hughes (in the red apron) as she leads the Pancake Race at Olney, 24th February 2009. Well done Jane.
Some details about the race.
According to tradition the Pancake Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire, England, was first run in the year 1445. It was run on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent. As I understand it the race continued over the centuries including through the Wars of The Roses. there were lapses but the race was never forgotten.
The race leaflet states that the Vicar of Olney, Cannon Ronald Collins, revived the race in 1948 after finding old photographs of the event from before World War Two.
In 1950 the town of Liberal in Kansas set up a similar event and the two towns now compete annually with prizes being exchanged between them.
There are few rules:
Contestants must have lived in the town of Olney for at least 3 months immediately prior to the event.
They must be women of at least 18 years of age.
The traditional costume of the housewife is worn including a skirt head cover and an apron, (contestants need not be married).
At the start the contestants have to toss their pancakes and the winner has to do so again before being declared the winner.
All in all it is a great day out and well worth a visit on a Shrove Tuesday. The main race starts at 1155am.
Please don't take my ramblings as gospel (I openly admit to having plagiarised several notes to inform you), if you are really interested in Olney visit the town's web site at