IT was third time lucky on Shrove Tuesday for Fernhurst Primary School, following a two-year gap in its traditional pancake races due to a badly-timed half term holidays and a mini-monsoon.

Fortunately, the rain held off for most of this year’s races, although the heavens had begun to open when year six pupils ran the course.

The popular village event attracted more than 30 supporters, who cheered on the runners from the sidelines. The youngest taking part, aged three and four, used paper plates as the frying pans were too heavy.

Deputy headteacher Libby Isaac, the organiser, told The Herald: “Despite the weather forecast, the sun shone on Shrove Tueday for almost all the event.

“Only year six had to run in the rain, but it was the perfect reason for parents to move towards shelter rather than line up with a frying pan.”

The children were lined up for their races on the upper playground with pupils itching to be ready for the off almost before the others had finished – with some completing the course as quickly as in a Jiffy – and as sharply as the lemons they had squeezed on the real thing for tea, no doubt.

Libby added: “Not every child quite had the hang of tossing a pancake, a compulsory part of each race, with year six having to complete the action three times.

“Races were run efficiently in year order, and thanks must go to the staff for such control, while enthusiastic support was being shouted out loudly for every race and almost all the time.”