Pancakes go flying for Coventry's annual Shrove Tuesday race

[dutchman]

Pancakes went flying as competitors dashed around Broadgate today for the annual city centre Shrove Tuesday race.



The lunchtime event was organised by the Belgrade Theatre to raise money for their Give the Gift of Theatre campaign.

Some 11 teams from different Coventry businesses challenged each another to be the finest flippers in the city.

David Jane, development director at the Belgrade, said: “Taking part in our Pantastic Pancake Race is a fun way to spend your lunchtime on Pancake Day, and there’ll be plenty of prizes up for grabs for the winning teams too.

“It’s also a great way to raise awareness of the Give the Gift of Theatre campaign and hopefully provide even more families facing financial hardship the opportunity to visit the theatre.”

Competitors had to flip their pancake three times on both the outward and return journey in a relay-style competition across the public square.

Steve Warner, manager of Pure Gym – who completed the race in a morph suit – said it was the culmination of weeks of preparation: “We were training before the event. This morning, we went on a two kilometre run to make sure we were ready.

“We take it all very seriously – pancakes are a serious business.”

Passers-by cheered as normally sober accountants from Dafferns battered their opponents in the first heats.

Sophie Breeze, 21, a Dafferns accountant, said: “I practised with the vegetables in my stir fry last night, but it didn’t go very well.

“The food ended up on the floor, but at least the dog had a lovely dinner!”

Pat Williams, 78, from Bedworth, dropped in to watch the event: “I read about it in the Telegraph, so I thought I’d come and have a look.

“It’s a nice tradition, and I thought I’d come and support the theatre today.”