Pancake day has patriotic flavour (From The Northern Echo)

Pancake day has patriotic flavour

10:55am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Ripon News

PEOPLE across the region went flippin’ mad yesterday as they marked Shrove Tuesday in the traditional manner.

In Ripon, nearly 300 people took part in the cathedral’s annual pancake race – a 600-year-old tradition in the North Yorkshire city.

The event was given a patriotic theme by a regiment of soldiers due to be deployed to Afghanistan in June. After setting up a field kitchen, troops from 21 Engineer Regiment spent hours cooking red, white and blue pancakes for the participants, including pupils representing all the city’s primary schools.

Racers charged off along the 100-yard course in Kirkgate after the cathedral’s Lent Bell chimed 40 times at 11am.

Councillor Bernard Bateman, organiser of the event, which sparked an outcry in 2008 when it was cancelled due to health and safety fears, said no one was injured in any of the races and he was delighted by the turnout.

Meanwhile, residents of Nightingale Hall care home, in Richmond were treated to a pancake race, courtesy of five staff members.

Janice Spark, activities co-ordinator and cook, said the residents loved it.

“Our staff are wonderful and do as much as they can to give our 26 residents a good time and keep them stimulated.”

Motorists were even offered an opportunity to get in on the act while filling up at the Mace service station in Haughton Road, Darlington, which offered a £50 prize to the person who could toss a pancake the most times in a minute.