Pancake Race
The now well-established Whitton pancake race held on Shrove Tuesday was once again well supported in 2008, with some new competitors and spectators, despite having to dodge a few showers. Champions Michael the Whitton Whippet and the Racing Reverend Claire were determined to triumph once again.
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The race as last year was a unisex race with a good number of entries. The contestants have to run from Whitton Farm up to the church and back, tossing their pancake at least once at the start, once at the church and once at the end. Due to an unfortunate accident dropping her pancake at the start of the race, the reigning ladies' champion the Racing Reverend Claire got off to a bad start and failed to keep her crown. Had her pancake perhaps been nobbled? We couldn't possibly say.
She was however ably supplanted by a new entrant, three-year old Amanda (surname withheld because she can't cope with the fame and can't quite manage to sign her autograph yet) who did it must be admitted have a slight advantage in starting half way round the course and who thrillingly finished in second place; she was also the only contestant with her mother running as her pacemaker. However, the men's champion Michael Holmes once again sped to an amazing finish and emerged overall victor. Nathan Rogers and Clare Britten followed close behind.
Copious amounts of sherry and pancakes were then as usual consumed back in the farmhouse.