Olney, Buckinghamshire residents take their annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race extremely seriously. The race, which is restricted to “ladies of Olney,” dates back to 1445 and has been held annually since 1948. It involves a 415-yard course from the pedestrian crossing in Olney market to the church door of St Peter and St Paul’s, with women-only entrants who must have lived or worked in Olney for at least three months and must provide their own pancake while wearing a skirt, apron, and headscarf.
Additionally, the race has an international rivalry with Liberal, Kansas, USA, which began in 1950 when newspaper accounts of the Olney race piqued the interest of city officials. Since then, the two locations have competed in an annual transatlantic pancake race, recording their times and holding an international video call to award prizes. Liberal runners had won 39 races to Olney’s 31 as of 2021.
Katie Godof of Olney won the race in 2022 in 70 seconds, edging out Whitney Hay of Liberal, who finished in 67 seconds. According to the event’s organisers, it is a “friendly little competition” between Liberal and Olney and “still the only race of its kind on the planet.”
The pancake race is more than a simple race; it unites the Olney community. When the Shriving Bell rings, all traffic stops and everyone pauses. The annual competition also commemorates the 250th anniversary of the composition of the hymn Amazing Grace by Olney’s curate Rev. John Newton for his sermon at St. Peter and St. Paul’s on 1 January 1773.
What began in the 15th century when a harried housewife rushed to church on Shrove Tuesday is still observed by both towns today. This year, the rivalry between Liberal and Olney will continue, with an ambassador from Liberal travelling to Olney for the race and both towns vying for victory.
