Photographer - Wallingford

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Owed to Johnny Houston, the Pancake Ace
It seemed as if, in year 09,
The pancake race was on the line.
No lions left to run the race,
It could not possibly take place.
Crisis of a serious kind,
A problem here to stretch the mind.
In hour of need, no need to fear,
For forward stepped a volunteer.
To Johnny Houston, boxing trainer,
The state of play could not be plainer.
Organise it, sort it out,
Give the race a bit of clout.
Preparations went ahead,
With teams of helpers ably led.
Incentive here for everyman,
The prize a golden frying-pan.
Crowds streamed in by car and bus
And lined the course with zero fuss.
Of athletes just the very best
Dared enter this endurance test.
Pancakes you will realise,
Must be of regulation size.
They must be tossed into the air
And shouldn’t really fall ‘par terre’.
But if they’re dropped, and down
they splat,
We shouldn’t be surprised at that!
Rotarians stood to see fair play
And hear appeals without delay.
But if there was the slightest doubt,
John Houston’s there to sort them
out.
If common sense has any place,
Don’t argue with a boxing ace.
Costume also played a role,
For some had dress sense rather
drole.
Contestants came from near and far,
One from distant Potters Bar.
Chris Bobadilla, brave and true,
Had jetted ‘specially from Peru.
First there came the juniors’ race,
From and to the Market Place,
Won by entrant very cool,
A sprinting ace from Fir Tree School.
Then the serious stuff began,
A challenge here for child and man.
Alec Hayton fired the gun,
Away competitors did run.
Courage none of these did lack,
As they pounded round the track.
Runners drenched in perspiration,
A credit to the British nation.
The pace was hot, the going tough,
Several laps were quite enough.
Even Ivy did not shirk it,
A stately mover round the circuit.
Then with sudden burst of speed,
Jason Parr assumed the lead.
Fit and fast, and standing tall,
He managed thirteen laps in all.
Winning then with loud acclaim,
He entered pancakes’ hall of fame.
The Mayor, of high-speed bikes a fan,
Presented Jason with the pan.
Mid scenes of pan-demon-ium,
Jason took the pan he’d won.
Such skills, such pace, this really
ought
To count as an Olympic sport.
Pam Cake
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