The women of Olney are under starters orders as they prepare for the historic Olney Pancake Race, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday 21 February 2023.
The runners, dressed in a skirt and head scarf and clutching their frying pan and pancake, will run the 415-yard course from the Market Place, down the High Street, to the race finish outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Olney. The race is reputed to have taken place since 1445 and has certainly run every year since 1948, except for 2021.
Ahead of the race itself, there are lots of activities taking place in the Market Place, starting with a sold-out pancake breakfast, prepared by celebrity chef, Lesley Waters. There will also be a “Cook it Eat it” competition with Lesley, involving two members of the audience, at 10.45am. With stalls, even more pancakes, music, a grand raffle, plus races for local nurseries and school children, there will be something for everyone.
The children’s races begin at 10.00 and the main race at 11.55am and all the details are on their website olneypancakerace.org.
All the runners join visitors in a Shriving Service which is held in the church immediately after the race. Some of the famous Olney Hymns, written by Rev. John Newton and the poet William Cowper, will be included in this special service. In particular, the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ will be sung in its 250th anniversary year.
The speaker at the service will be Simon Poole, a member of the 'Christians in Sport' Elite Sport Team. He is a GB duathlete and is one of the leaders of the Town Church in Bicester where he lives.
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