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For only the third time since the Wimborne Minster Pancake Race was revived in 1998 it had to take place inside the Minster on Shrove Tuesday 1st March due to the prevailing weather conditions. This did not stop a good number of people attending to cheer on those taking part.

Three local schools participated Wimborne First, four pupils in one race with the winner being Ren Turner, Dumpton, nineteen runners across five heats and a final with the winner being Luca Dampney and Allenbourn Middle with twelve runners across three heats and a final with the winner being Kianah Hickson.

Five toddlers took part in the Toddlers Race with Charlie Craythorne being declared the winner. Then came the Wheelchair entries from Streets Meadow.

Due to space restrictions the four entries were pushed up and down the centre of the nave on a timed basis. The winner was Trevor pushed by Julie-Anne Ricketts and he won a large sack of wild bird food for Streets Meadow which had been kindly donated by the Wimborne Pet Centre.

In the adult races there were ten runners and all ran round the inside of the Minster individually on a timed basis. Runners included members of staff from MJP Law, The Minsters Rector the Revd Canon Andrew Rowland and the Curate the Revd Nick Wells but all were beaten by a previous winner Scott Taylor with a time of 12.50 seconds, Nick Rawling was second with Molly Doola coming in at third place. Scott received the John Loader Memorial Cup from Kathy and Martyn Curtler to hold for a year and a Serving Jug from Dorset View/Viewpont Magazine  presented by Marilyn Barber the News Editor to retain.

Town Mayor Cllr Kelly Webb and the Town Crier Chris Brown started off all the races with the Mayor presenting the monetary prizes to all those winners in the Under 18s races.. Number 9 On the Green in Cook Row provided Pancakes to be purchased both before and after the races and also assisted with the sponsorship of the schools races.

A collection taken for Minster Funds raised £67.62

Anthony Oliver who along with a small team organises the annual race said afterwards, “that in spite of the weather we had an enjoyable morning and there were a lot of smiling faces. Let’s hope for better weather next year when Shrove Tuesday falls on 21st February 2023 so get into training in good time.

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Photographs courtesy Gordon Edgar:

Pic No 1 Depicts the Winner of the Adult Races Scott Taylor receiving the John Loader Memorial Trophy from Kathy Curtler. Scott is holding his grandchild born just before Christmas. Looking on are the Rector, the Mayor, holding the Serving Jug, Town Crier and the Curate (in colour top) with members of the Pancake Race Organising Team (in Chefs Hats) from the  left John Bunting, Martyn Curtler Anthony Oliver and Steve Burrows.

Pic No 2 The Winner of the Adult races with second and  third placed along with the Mayor, Town Crier and members of the Organising Committee

Pic No 3 As 0980 plus the Rector getting into practice