Photo Feature: More Great Guildford Pancake Races – But Will They Be the Last?

Published on: 18 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 19 Feb, 2026

The Great Guildford Pancake Races providing fun for all age groups at yesterday’s event.

By Martin Giles

Photos by Mandy Millyard

Guildford’s traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake races took place yesterday on the High Street lined with spectators but the event’s future is not secure.

As well as the housewives’ and mascot races there were 18 relay teams.

The mascots normally have the best costumes but there were only two entrants this year: ‘Cherry’ from Cherry Trees children’s charity, and ‘Speccie’ representing The Spectrum Leisure Centre.

The ‘housewives’ ‘ race. That red wig is fooling no one!

The teams were divided by age groups: nursery children, 3-6-year-olds, 7-12-year-olds and adults. There were competitors from all age groups from two-year-olds to 70 and as usual expert commentary was provided by one of Guildford’s best-known voices Peter Gordon.

One of the youngest entrants finds keeping one’s tongue out can really help concentration.

Cell doors in the main corridor of The Spike.

Race origins

The race was first organised 21 years ago in 2005, when the Charlotteville Jubilee Trust was in the process of saving “The Spike“, a Grade II listed vagrants and casuals ward in Charlotteville, from inappropriate development.

The proposal was to provide a community centre in the building, as well as a heritage experience which would tell the story of how the poor were treated under the Victorian Poor Laws.

To remind people that poverty and homelessness were not just things of the past, the Trust started the “Great Guildford Pancake Races” to raise money for charities that look after those less well-off.

John Redpath

Chief organiser John Redpath told The Dragon: “I have no idea why I still do it. Madness perhaps? But I get a feeling of great elation when we raise money for a good cause and see so many people having fun.”

And the organisation is no mean feat as Redpath explained: “It takes about four weeks and includes lots of paperwork for GBC. We need to conduct a risk assessment, get insurance, and arrange a street collection licence.

“Getting sponsors and race prizes is always a challenge especially with retail on hard times. And about 40 volunteers are required for a successful morning.”

Oh no! Where’s my pancake!

Tasks for the volunteers include: registration, race marshalling, finish line judging and prize giving. Then, of course, there are the very important “Tossing Monitors”, making sure all racers are tossing correctly as they run!

Redpath observed: “We did have one fall flat on their face yesterday but injuries, even in the wet, are very unusual due to the carefully positioned “Tossing Points”, every ten metres along the 50 metre course.

Slow and steady wins the race. Careful pancake management is key.

Uncertain future

But future prospects for the race look bleak, said the former borough councillor: “We had input from Surrey County Council this year. It was quite bureaucratic which puts me off holding the races disc again.

“And I fear things will get worse when we have the impending West Surrey Unitary Council involved. It is doubtless that will make it too difficult and expensive for me to carry on.

“So as things stand this will be my last pancake race. But I hope someone out there will takeover.

Darcy and Isla who came to support a Portsmouth based charity called Connors Toy Library in partnership with Guildford based Delivered Social.

“Two cheery notes though, we raised more than £800 for St John’s Community Support and the City of Portsmouth has been so impressed with our format that it has copied it this year!”

And pancake management is not just important for the competitors. Marshall are here preparing the frying pans, complete with pancakes, for the next race.

It’s great to see a mature racer showing those younger a clean pair of heels.

A marshall displays the names of race winners – but what were the odds?

Some of the best vantage points to watch the races was from first floor windows.

What a shame it would be if we don’t see scenes like this in future years.

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