After watching the Spitalfields Pancake Race just off of Brick Lane last year (Spitalfields Pancake Race 2013), I put the date in my calendar for this year so that I could watch the race and get some photographs. The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is located just off of Brick Lane on Dray Walk, literally opposite the office where I work. Perfect!
Pancake-flipping fun
Live music was being played before the race. The costumes did not disappoint this year. This year, there were two groups dressed as construction workers, strawberries, friars, red hats, cow masks, and cutlery. (I thought that the cutlery costumes were brilliant, but it was the strawberries who nabbed the "best costume" award.) There was also a group celebrating a milestone 60th birthday.
Birthday girl
The Spitalfields City Farm dressed as strawberries, and there was a lion and a cow thrown into the mix. They had a banner.
Spitalfields City Farm Pancake Day Race
The four cutlery girls made hats of cutlery (fork, teaspoon, table spoon, and a knife) and wore pretty Cath Kidston aprons.
The cutlery girls suss out their competition
A group with painted faces waits for the races to begin
Construction pancake flippers
The two guys dressed in colourful clown costumes were there again this year, and they demonstrated the rules of the pancake race. The race was back-and-forth, with one member of the team running with the frying pan (with pancake) to the other side, and the team member would take over. There are two lines on the course, and when the line is approached, the pancake must be flipped before continuing.
One of the clowns
Demonstrating the rules
When the races began, it was every person for himself/herself. It seemed that everyone had a good time watching and participating in the race. I took a tonne of photographs of the race. Prizes were Cath Kidston merchandise and sweets.
The Great Spitalfields Pancake Day race raises aid for London Air Ambulance. The winning team (this year, it was the Aldgate Towers) receives a special engraved frying pan and other goodies. Teams must apply to participate in the race in advance.
The winning team is announced and given an engraved frying pan
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