Tuesday

8th February 2005 at 11:00 am

saw

The Return of the

Guildford Pancake Race

Hosted by the Charlotteville Jubilee Trust, it was held in the High Street

A Charity event to collect money for our new community centre at the Spike and the No.5 Night Shelter

The Children's Races

WOW! That’s one way to describe such a day, amazingly lucky with the weather. But most of all WHAT A TURN OUT!

Sandfield County Primary School set the mood triaining with ballet shoes and bean bags on rackets for the Pancake Race challenge, their faces told the story.  With fantastic spirit they ran and tossed their pancakes. 

Each child was invited into the Guildhall to eat a pancake.   Their excitement did not stop there…. waiting for them upstairs was Cheryl Mendham of Ottakar’s of Guildford with a book for every runner and a prize book for the school which was presented to head teacher, Marie Curtis.

The children went out onto the balcony to see the hustle and bustle of the crowds cheering on the races below and met Downsy of Eagle FM.

One touching comment as they were being taken back to school “I’ve been up there on that balcony you know”. 

Simply Lovely!  

The Adults!

A little more serious this one.  Run over the full 50 metres of the course, there were options of a straight dash or a relay race for teams of four.

The “grown ups” were let loose and it’s been a long time since Guildford’s cobbled streets have witnessed such a pummelling from the steel toe capped boots of our Fire Squad and the Police Force as they tossed the race.  Police came first but were disqualified by Tossing Monitor Charles Turton, for performing an invalid toss.

Goodwill abounded as solicitors, firemen, police, worthy passers by, shopkeepers, councillors, bankers all thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.  The Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford ran the race the Mayor won the wooden spoon. 

Eagle FM’s Downsy gave live commentary while BBC radio South recorded the event for posterity.  TV Meridian gave a fantastic broadcast in the evening, The Charlotteville Jubilee Trust thanks the Borough Council for the opportunity to organise the Pancake Race.

Our thanks to the sponsors of this event:

Barclays Bank and Gerrard Ltd.