Pancake races in Beaulieu and Brockenhurst to mark Shrove Tuesday

SPRING-like sunshine helped draw out the crowds in two New Forest towns to watch competitors have a flippin’ good time battling it out in pancake races.

Hundreds of youngsters and adults competed with frying pans held aloft as they ran through Beaulieu and Brockenhurst to mark Shrove Tuesday.

In Beaulieu the 24th annual event was officially opened by the Rev Catherine Cowie, who took up her post as the first female rector of the Beaulieu Abbey Church last year.

Organiser Jan Hoy told the A&T: “The weather helped to bring in the crowds, [with] both sides of the high street crowded. Our new vicar officially opened the afternoon and did a running commentary – she was fabulous.

“There were seven adult teams competing this year, including from Master Builder’s House Hotel, The Montagu Arms, New Forest Fruit Farm, Palace House [and] the John Montague Building – and the only team to dress up was the Beaulieu Warblers, they were the pink ladies from Grease. It was great fun, they brightened the high street up!”

Pancakes were donated by The Brabazon restaurant as well as Master Builder’s and The Montagu Arms – with the later two coming joint first in the races.

Parents also took part in the Great Beaulieu Pancake Tossing Competition, which was won by Serena Williams with a record 140 tosses.

Meanwhile in Brockenhurst crowds gathered in Brookley Road to watch races including categories for pre-school and school aged youngsters as well as men, women and both walking and running relay teams.

The event is organised by Brockenhurst Parish Council’s events committee and sponsored by the Friends of Brockenhurst, which provided gold, silver and bronze environmentally friendly wooden medals for the winners. Tesco Express in the village also donated sweets for the children taking part and this year students from Brockenhurst College’s uniformed protective services helped to organise the races.

A parish council spokesperson told the A&T: “The running relay has become quite a competitive race and once again Balmer Lawn Hotel retained their first place position. The walking relay also did very well with Woodpeckers (Colton Care) taking the gold medal.

“Debbie Hulme, a competitor in the adults individual race received the ‘best flipper’ medal.”

Speaking after the event a spokesperson for the Friends of Brockenhurst said: “Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Brockenhurst pancake races – it was a fantastic turnout and a wonderful community event.”

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