Out of the frying pan
22 February 2007
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| The winning Environmental Health Department team with Mayor of St Albans Cllr Alison Steer |
THE annual St Albans pancake race cooked up a storm this year when the first team over the line was disqualified.
Tuesday's race outside the Town Hall resulted in the St Albans Arts, Sports and Health team from Leisure Connection being stripped of the title for not stopping while tossing their pancakes.
First place was handed to the council's Environmental Health Department team who had been runners-up.
The Abbey clergy, winners for the last two years, made it to the final heat but lost out to the eventual winners.
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| Passing on the frying pan |
A crowd of about 300 gathered to watch the competitors on the concourse in damp and slippery conditions, running and stopping at designated spots to toss and catch their pancakes.
Sixteen teams of four competed fiercely for the first prize - a frying pan engraved with the names of the previous victors presented by the Mayor, Cllr Alison Steer.
This year a relay race was favoured over the usual course to minimise the risk of injury, so participants did not have to make a turn on the wet ground. The course was also moved to give the competitors more space.
St Albans tourism and regeneration manager Charles Baker said: "It was wonderful to have so many teams taking part and to see such a large crowd supporting what is now an important event in the city's calendar."
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| Flipping away |
He added: "The pancake race is about upholding tradition and English culture.
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