Littlehampton Pancake Olympics set for take-off

The Sochi games may have finished but Olympic fever has not ended for residents in Littlehampton as the town prepares for its own sporting spectacle – the Pancake Olympics.

Hundreds are set to line the streets to watch teams do battle in a series of wacky races at Saturday’s event.

It will see a total of 76 competitors taking part – one of the largest entries to date – with all of them keen to take home the coveted golden frying pan.

This year’s games is once again being organised by the Littlehampton Town Council, in conjunction with sponsors Sainsbury’s, and will be taking place in High Street, from 11am.

Janice Willcox, Sainsbury’s charity liaison, explained the store will be fronting its own team, which had ambitions of winning the £100 prize.

This cash would then go towards supporting the retailer’s chosen charity for the year, Crossroad Care South Central.

Janice said the day will be ‘great fun’ and that Sainsbury’s was ‘determined’ to bring home the top prize.

She added: “We are up against other traders in the town so we have been practising down the aisles in store to try and keep the pancakes in the pan.”

The current title holder is the Martlets team from The Martlets care home, in East Preston, who has remained undefeated for two consecutive years.

Teams will be fighting to prove they are the best flippers in town competing in four disciplines from a straight sprint to pancake curling, flipping and obstacle courses.

The chairman of Littlehampton Town Council’s community resources committee, councillor Malcolm Belchamber said: “As a previous judge I have had the privilege of meeting past participants and witness their boundless energy and determination to raise funds for local causes.

“Hundreds of pounds are raised each year at this event, supporting vital services in Littlehampton.”

Prizes are also available for the silver and bronze frying pan-winning teams.

For details on sponsoring one of the fundraising teams, see here.