Lowestoft: Joy as new winners crowned in pancake day races

The mascots in the annual Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races 2023. (Image: Mick Howes)

With nine Lowestoft-based businesses and organisations taking part, seven mascots also lined up as they battled it out in the town centre on Shrove Tuesday.

Event organisers Lowestoft Vision - the Business Improvement District for Lowestoft which is managed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce - praised the turnout as excited onlookers cheered the teams on in London Road North.

Mascots competing in the annual Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races 2023. (Image: Mick Howes)

The mascot races saw last year's champion Gerard the Giraffe, from Citrus Shredding, progress through the first heat to be joined by the Be Active Bee and the Empower Mouse - raising funds for Access Community Trust - in the final.

Mascots competing in the annual Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races 2023. (Image: Mick Howes)

First time entrant the Empower Mouse was crowned as winner of the 2023 race.

Empower Mouse won the 2023 Lowestoft Vision mascot pancake day races. (Image: Mick Howes)

With nine teams battling it out over three legs of the specially-set course, the teams of three competitors raced against each other over a short course, flipping pancakes as they dashed the distance.

Teams battling it out at the Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races 2023. (Image: Mick Howes)

With four heats, followed by two semi-finals, NR Health and Fitness beat The Misfits (from B&M) to progress to the final against fellow first time entrants Lowestoft Town Council, who narrowly beat Move it & Flip it Right (from Move it & Store It Right).

Action from the 2023 Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

A close final saw the team from NR Health & Fitness Club on the South Lowestoft Industrial Estate crowned champions.

The trio of Maddy Salmon, Fiona Campbell and club manager Dan Andrews - who kept their original pancake intact and didn't drop it once during their 54 flips - triumphed.

Winners of the 2023 Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races, NR Health and Fitness. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Mr Andrews said: "This is our first year taking part, with the gym having only been in Lowestoft for five months - so we are delighted to have won."

Lowestoft Vision chairman Danny Steel said: "It's lovely to see many people watching and two new winners crowned."

Lowestoft Vision chairman Danny Steel crowns the winners of the 2023 Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Action from the 2023 Lowestoft Vision Pancake Day races. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)