Poultry World competes with MPs at British Lion Eggs annual pancake race

Poultry World‘s Lucy Knowles found herself racing against members of both houses of parliament and the BBC’s Nick Robinson earlier this week in the annual pancake race in aid of the brain injury charity Rehab.

Four teams in total gathered for the relay race across Victoria Tower Gardens early on 5 February, representing MPs, the Lords, the media and the sponsor – British Lion Eggs.

Among those in the MPs’ team were shadow minister for the disabled, Mark Harper, along with Labour MP Stephen Pound.

And peers’ team included Lords Addington, Teverson, and Baronesses Walmsley.

Running in the media team were BBC political editor Mr Robinson and Cathy Newman of Channel Four News.

And the British Lion Eggs team included British Egg Industry Council chairman Andrew Parker, chief executive Mark Williams and Poultry World reporter Lucy Knowles.

PANCAKE DAY

Click images to expand.

 

Mrs Knowles said: “Just before the start there was a dilemma within our team [British Lion Eggs] whether we should flip the pancake into the saucepan while running or flip while stationary and then run afterwards?”

However, according to the rules stipulated by Sophie Thompson [the actress who played ex-Eastender character Stella Crawford], three flips of the pancake had to take place during the race or there would be instant disqualification.

Luckily, Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas was on hand to give his advice of “flip and then run” before blowing his whistle to start the race.

And belting off from the starting position and taking the instant lead were the MPs’ team, while the Lion “Eggers” adopted a somewhat slower pace.

With the occasion chef’s hat flying off in the wind and the inevitable mishap of pancakes missing the pans, the race continued at a fast pace.

Speeding ways ahead were the MP’s who looked certain to win. But fast on their paces were the media team who managed to lap the MP’s taking up the lead position.

And with tension building up and the final stretch in sight, it was Mr Robinson who was first to sprint across the finishing line with his delighted media team who proudly received the winners cup.

Picture Captions (from left to right):

1. ITN’s Libby Weiner pulls clear of Lord Teverson

2. Olympic athlete was on hand to give advice to the British Egg Team which included (l-r) BEIC chief executive Mark Williams and Poultry World’s Lucy Knowles second from right.

3. Lord Dholakia beats Mark Harper MP to the first corner

4. BBC political editor Nick Robinson was first to sprint across the finishing line