From Frying Pan to Finish Line: A Shrove Tuesday Showdown at the International Pancake Race

You won’t find pancake racing on tonight’s primetime Olympic lineup, but once a year two towns separated by more than 4,500 miles come together in the spirit of competition. Winning the gold medal brings great pride—and plenty of bragging rights for their community. Each year on Shrove Tuesday, for the past 77 years, Olney, England, and Liberal, Kansas, have squared off in an international show of goodwill: the International Pancake Race.

The tale of pancake racing in Olney goes back even further—way back to 1445. Legend has it that a housewife was cooking pancakes when she heard the shriving bell. Not wanting to be late, she dashed to the nearby church, frying pan and pancake in hand. It wasn’t until 1950 that the competition became an international event. That’s when Liberal resident R.J. Leete contacted a reverend at St. Paul’s Church in Olney, England, challenging the women of Olney to a friendly competition in their respective towns. The event has grown into multiple days with festivities celebrating community and friendship.

Each Shrove Tuesday kicks off with a pancake feed, followed by a series of races beginning with the youngest competitors—at just three years old. A last-chance race, mascot race, and men’s pacer all build anticipation for the main event: the International Pancake Race, an all-women’s competition mirroring the original 415-yard dash in Olney. Participants must follow a set of agreed-upon rules, including flipping their pancake at both the start and finish—adding just a bit more tension to the race.

Once the race concludes, the top three finishers are awarded medals, but the winning time remains a tightly guarded secret. Participants and fans then make the short walk to the Methodist Church for the Shriving Service, followed by a video call with the group in Olney. After all, there’s still some unfinished business: who gets to claim the title of International Pancake Champion?

After a bit of friendly banter, it was announced that Liberal’s Hannah McCarter won with a time of 1:03.78, besting Olney’s top runner, who finished in 1:05. This victory marks Liberal’s third consecutive win and extends its lead in the series to 43–31.

While pancake racing likely won’t make the Olympic roster anytime soon, it does embody the same spirit of international goodwill, friendly competition, and community. It’s that last point—community—that was the highlight of the event for me. The town of Liberal, from its residents and volunteers to its city government, truly comes together to support this event and one another. Photos and article by Tanner Colvin