TRADITIONAL pancake races took place across the region with competition reaching fever pitch in Sunderland as youngsters battled it out for tickets to their favourite club.

Sunderland AFC marked Shrove Tuesday with a special event for youngsters at its seafront cafe.

The Beach House, in Marine Walk, Roker, hosted a pancake demonstration by chef John Borradaile and activities on the beach including football skills demonstrations by members of the Sunderland Ladies team.

Youngsters also had the chance to win prizes, such as match tickets, for the Stadium of Light.

Children from Eggleston Youth Cafe, in Teesdale, also tested out their cookery skills with an American Pancake themed event.

The group invited residents from the village and all proceeds will be ploughed back into the cafe.

Wendy Greenfield, who runs Eggleston Youth Cafe, said: “We did it for the first time last year and it was a success so we thought we would do it again.

“We have a really lovely group and we try to teach them that to be good citizens you have to give something back. We are doing a little something for the village.”

In Ripon, the tradition of holding the pancake races on the peel of the Cathedral Lent Bell at 11am was upheld as the Dean of Ripon, Rev Canon John Dobson, and town Mayor Cllr Mick Stanley started proceedings.

Ripon Rotary Rowels Club marshalled the event, which was organised by Ripon Festivals.

All participants received a certificate together with an Easter egg donated by Hemingway’s, with the pancakes provided by 21 Royal Engineers Regiment, who also set up a field kitchen in front of the cathedral providing pancakes for everyone.

At Rosedale care home in Catterick Garrison, staff and residents celebrated Shrove Tuesday in style with a pancake tossing race and obstacle course.

Staff formed three teams and went head to head. Residents, families and friends gathered around the home’s gardens to watch the antics unfold.

Care manager Anna Masheter said: “Pancake day is a real favourite among residents.

“It gives us all an excuse to enjoy some delicious pancakes and toppings, and we had loads of fun during the races and obstacle course.”

In Northallerton, stores, businesses and organisations came together to compete in a pancake race to raise cash for the Friarage Hospital’s MRI Scanner Appeal.

The event, reinstated in 2010 by food firm Lewis & Cooper, was this year supported by Sam Turner & Sons, Northallerton & District Rotary Club, Northallerton Retail and Business Forum and Northallerton Town Council, among others.

Flipping a pancake all the way, runners attempted to stay on a course on the town’s Applegarth playing fields.

Organiser of the Bedale pancake races since the 1960s, Peter Parlour said despite the half term holiday reducing numbers it was a great success enjoyed by all.

He said: “It is a great tradition, and I’m very grateful to our sponsors the Co-op in the town, which has donated all the Easter egg prizes.”

Co-op manager Jonathan Barker presented the chocolate eggs to youngsters and the Silverdale Trophy to Gemma McNairn who won the women’s race.