Shrove Tuesday pancake race

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 16

Shrove Tuesday pancake race

Twenty-seven women representing five New Brighton organisations raced down Seaview Road, New Brighton, tossing pancakes yesterday afternoon during the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race organised by the Christchurch East Rotary Club.

The race has been held annually in New Brighton since 1961 and the president of the club (Mr C. Dale) said yesterday that New Brighton was the only community in New Zealand that regularly observed the custom.

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, derives its name from the practice of confessing sins and being shrived—gaining absolution. More than 300 persons watched the women, all married and over 25 years of age, run the 100-yard course in five heats. The winner of each heat took part in the final.

During each race competitors were required to toss the pancake in each of three tossing areas set at 25-yard intervals along the course. Few contestants dropped their pancakes and most managed the feat while still running. Competition in each heat and in the final was keen and in most races there was little to separate the placegetters. The winner of the final was Mrs B. Church, who represented the New Brighton branch of the Plunket Society. Mrs Church, who has two small children, said that it was the first time she had

entered the event. Recently, she said, she had made pancakes to practise tossing and on Monday evening she practised with a plastic plate. Second was Mrs S. Taylor, representing South Brighton netbailers, and third was Mrs F. Smith, representing the Burwood Play Centre. Other finalists were Mrs M. Dalton (South Brighton netbailers) and Mrs C. Bromley (Burwood Play Centre). During the afternoon a 75yd matron’s race was held in which three women took part. The winner was Mrs F. M. Keenan.

To the delight of the crowd five men were persuaded to run the course bouncing table tennis balls in a frypan. The winner was A. Cockbum.

The prizes were presented by the vicar of New Brighton (the Rev. J. L. Barker). Cash prizes for the winners of each heat and the final and appearance money will be given to the organisations the winners represented. During the races a collection was taken for the Rotary Club’s welfare fund for the aged and needy. Mrs Church is shown winning the final.