Pancakes at the ready!

The race in which competitors flip their pancakes all the way to the finish line will begin at noon and this year its organisers, Soroptimist International of Newbury & District branch, have said their expect it to remain as popular as ever.
Organiser Katy Hawthorne said: “Weather permitting, this year will be great and, touch wood, we have never had to cancel an event due to rain.”
Teams of four are invited to enter at £20 per team and businesses can sponsor races at £50 per race.
The Grand Final winners will be awarded a trophy and the accolade of Pancake Race Champions of 2012.
Last year, 23 teams entered the competition, a record number.
A team from the Carnarvon Arms, Burghclere, was crowned champions after they pipped a Sainsbury’s team in a photo finish.
This year, the Newbury Weekly News is sponsoring the Newbury Pancake Champions of 2012, while the Best Dressed Team of 2012 will be sponsored by Henwick Properties, and the Pancake Tossers of the year will be sponsored by Gecko Communications.
As always, the event was full of colour, with many teams in fancy dress, some dressed as characters from children’s movie Toy Story and others as Robin Hood.
The age-old tradition of tossing pancakes from St Nicholas’ Church tower to the people below will also continue this year.
Traditional pancake lunches will be served in St Nicholas’ Church Hall from 12.15pm.
The money raised will go to the Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank.
For more information or to enter, telephone organiser Katy Hawthorne on (01635) 34045.