Pancake racing raises Minster funds

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. Anthony also thanked  his Organising Team and all those who had helped 
in any way including the Mayor, Town Crier,  those with the Registration of 
the Entries, Stewarding, Collecting, setting up the Public Address, Ringing 
the Pancake Bell and manning the First Aid in case of need.