They ran, they flipped, they conquered.

Under a brilliant blue sky in the picturesque village of Elstead, near Farnham, crowds gathered to witness the much-anticipated return of the Big Elstead Pancake Race.

For about two decades, the race had been a cherished annual tradition, taking place on the weekend before Shrove Tuesday. However, after the last event in 2019, the pandemic forced a hiatus. This year, its comeback was nothing short of spectacular.

With frying pans in hand, children and adults sprinted down the village street, pausing at marked points to expertly flip their pancakes. Cheers and laughter filled the air as competitors raced to the finish line.

Organiser Helen Page admitted to some pre-race jitters: “When I woke up at 3am, I had a dream that only four people turned up - so I’m thrilled by the incredible turnout.”

After the races, residents made their way to the village hall for a pancake-flipping competition, well-earned refreshments, and, of course, plenty of freshly made pancakes to enjoy.

The event was organised to raise funds for Charlie’s Promise, a charity that aims to prevent knife crime.

Check our website and next week’s paper for more photos, reports and videos from the day.