Kaisa Larkas wins the Olney Pancake Race

Kaisa Larkas triumphed in the historic Olney Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday 13 February 2024, completing the 415-yard course in a time of just 1.03.37. It was a fiercely contested race, with Eloise Krammer coming a very close second, and Rebecca Budd in third.

Kaisa won the race back in 2017 and said “I can’t resist a challenge! And it’s great fun”.

This has been a record-breaking year for entries, with 24 individual runners and 10 three-legged teams. Dressed in a skirt and head scarf and clutching their frying pan and pancake, the runners completed the packed course from the Market Place, down the High Street, to the race finish outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Olney. The race is reputed to have taken place since 1445 and has certainly run every year since 1948, except for 2021.

Pamela Bolivar won the 75^th International Race in Liberal, Kansas, with a time of 1.03.03 – it couldn’t have been closer! This means Olney remains on an overall 32 wins against the 40 of Liberal.  The international event began in 1950 and, in a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually and prizes are exchanged. The results were shared in the evening via a weblink.

Visitors to the Race were also treated to children’s races, a demonstration from Ben Francis, Head Chef of The Cherry Tree, music and entertainment, and, of course, lots of pancakes!

The Race will be back next year, on Shrove Tuesday 4 March 2025. Like us on Facebook @olneypancakerace, or on Instagram @theolneypancakerace to keep in touch.