The historic Olney Pancake Race takes place on Shrove Tuesday, 17 February 2026 and follows a great tradition; the race is reputed to have taken place since 1445.
No one is quite certain how the world-famous Pancake Race at Olney originated. One story tells of a harassed housewife, hearing the shriving bell, dashing to the Church still clutching her frying pan containing a pancake. Another tells that the gift of pancakes may have been a bribe to the Ringer, or Sexton, that he might ring the bell sooner; ringing the bell signalled the beginning of the day’s holiday.
Tradition declares that the Pancake Race was first run in the year 1445, on Shrove Tuesday and the entire day was given over to a festival of celebration, pranks, and pastimes. While the race itself may have lapsed many times over the centuries, it was never entirely forgotten by the womenfolk of Olney. It was revived again in 1948 by the then Vicar of Olney, the Reverend Canon Ronald Collins and has been run every year since then, except for 2021.
Colour images courtesy of David Peach Photography
The children’s races will take place at 10.00 and the main race at 11.55am. All the runners join visitors in a Shriving Service which is held in the Church of St Peter and St Paul immediately after the race. The service will include some of the famous Olney Hymns, written by Rev. John Newton and the poet William Cowper, in particular, the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’.
Colour images courtesy of David Peach Photography
The race also has an international element - in 1950 the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA issued a challenge to Olney. In a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually, and prizes are exchanged.
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