On February 13, one of the many days during which it rained all day, 42 teams competed in the Winchester Rotary Pancake Races. 

The pancake races are now established as an annual event in the Winchester calendar on Shrove Tuesday and this year saw a record entry of teams from the local community. 

These were local charities, military, businesses of all kinds including hotels, supermarkets, estate agents, and legal firms all competing to beat teams of Cathedral choirboys and bell ringers. 

This year’s event was sponsored by Gentian, a local retail, commercial and residential property developer, and was watched by around 200 wet but enthusiastic spectators whose encouragement was welcomed by all the teams and went toward creating a fun atmosphere which defied best efforts of the inclement weather.

The Royal Hotel was the eventual race winners, while a team from Tesco, won the prize for the best team name “Pirates of the Carrot-Bean-Aisle”, and Winchester Round Table was awarded the prize for the best costume.

The overall winner on the day was Winchester Hospice as the event raised just over £2,500 for what is Winchester Rotary’s charity of this Rotary year. On behalf of Winchester Rotary I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Rotarians who organised the event and others whose support on the day made it the success it undoubtedly was. My thanks also to the cathedral for once again allowing us the use of the Outer Close and to the irrepressible spectators who seemed to enjoy getting wet every bit as much as the competitors.

Shrove Tuesday 2025 is March 4 and we will be organising our pancake races once again, so get your entry in and your fancy dress costumes out ready for another enjoyable day.

Les Haswell,
President,
Winchester Rotary

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