Pancake Day: Annual Shrove Tuesday race at Norwich Cathedral

The latter is exactly how a gaggle of youngsters in the city celebrated in a tradition dating back to 2005.

Choristers in full flight during the 2023 Pancake Day race at Norwich Cathedral on February 21 - Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

This year's instalment of the Norwich Cathedral choir pancake race took place in the cloisters with more than 30 choristers - as well as clergy, teaching staff and parents - taking part in their traditional robes.

Choristers in full flight during the 2023 Pancake Day race at Norwich Cathedral on February 21 - Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

A tradition in the grounds of the cathedral, choristers go head-to-head around a simple course while being cheered on by peers, friends and family.

Often feisty races, choristers run in year groups - boys and girls separately in heats - and are known to slip through the middle of the cloister in a bid to bag first place, with tumbles and lost shoes involved in this year's proceedings.

Choristers in full flight during the 2023 Pancake Day race at Norwich Cathedral on February 21 - Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

Along the way, participants must flip their pancake at least once while completing the simple track in the cathedral grounds, rewarded with the sweet treat of pancakes at the finish line.

Rev Canon Aiden Platten takes the lead in front of the Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Dr Andrew Braddock, left, and Edwin Wilton-Morgan, curate, in one of the 2023 Pancake Day races at Norwich Cathedral - Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)