Athletes of all ages abandoned their duties in favour of pancake race

Tills were unmanned and classrooms were emptied this morning, as competitors prepared themselves for the annual Waltham Abbey pancake race. Mums, dads and twenty mini chefs limbered up before taking to the track, along Sun Street, frying pans in hand. The children battled it out first, some ran, some walked and others wandered along eating their pancakes. 4 year-old Jasmine Argent, from Leverton Primary School, came out victorious after three heats and a final, declaring that she had been in it to win it. She said: “I did enjoy it, I like to win every day.” First time racer, 32 year-old Louise Whitton from Brentwood, won the adult race, and left with the 2013 Pancake Race champion’s plate. The last race of the day saw businesses from in and around the town, abandoning their posts, to compete against their fellow traders. A customer in tattoo parlour, Ouch, was left mid-ink when his tattooist decided that he could not pass up the opportunity to take part. Representatives from Tesco, Sun Street Cafe, Stanley Bridge Cycles and even Slimming World, amongst others, took place in the final race. Easily the most competitive event of the day, the final show down was won by 32 year-old Craig Sheffield, owner of CSS motors. The event, which is organised by Waltham Abbey Town Partnership, every year, saw more people than ever taking part. Organiser Kate Towerzey, said that the race, which gives people in the town an opportunity to meet each other, was a success, despite the cold weather. She said: “We have definitely had more businesses taking part this year, from outside of the town centre too.” “It brings people together and it is such good fun.”