1.
LS EMBANKMENT GARDENS.
0.03

2.
MS CROWD.
0.06

3.
MS START OF RACE.
0.09

4.
LS RUNNERS DOWN COURSE, TURN, START BACK FINISH.
0.38

5.
MS PHOTOGRAPHERS.
0.41

6.
MCS LEADER OF WINNING TEAM (READING UNIVERSITY) RECEIVING TROPHY AND THEN JOINED BY OTHER TEAMS MEMBERS.
0.57

7.
CU TROPHY.
1.00



Initials JSU/V/BHH/FR



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: EIGHTEEN ATTRACTIVE GIRL UNDERGRADUATES PUT THEIR BOOKS ASIDE TODAY (TUESDAY) TO RUN A TRADITIONAL SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE RACE IN LONDON'S VICTORIA EMBANKMENT GARDENS FOR THE SAKE OF CHARITY.

THE RACE WAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND. IT WAS SPONSORED, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN SUCCESSION, BY A BRITISH MAGAZINE WHICH PROVIDED SOUVENIR PROGRAMMES FOR SALE AND THE PANCAKES FOR TOSSING.

THE APRON-CLAD AND MINI-SKIRTED CONTESTANTS WERE ENTERED FROM SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING KENT, SUSSEX AND READING.

AND WHEN THE TOSSING WAS ALL OVER IT WAS READING WHO WERE THE EVENTUAL WINNERS--THEIR PRIZE, COLLECTED BY THE TEAM CAPTAIN PAT WARD, A GIGANTIC WOODEN SPOON.

THE ORIGIN OF PANCAKE RACING IS SOMEWHAT OBSCURE BUT FOR THE POPULARITY OF THE DISH ITSELF ON SHROVE TUESDAY THERE WAS A VERY PRACTICAL EXPLANATION: IT SERVED TO USE UP FAT AND EGGS WHICH WERE PROHIBITED FOODS DURING LENT.