It needed a steady hand, nimble legs and lots of energy to win this competition.

Chefs and catering staff tossed caution – and pancakes – to the wind and stampeded through the streets of Wallingford on Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, in 1985.

For 15 minutes, half a dozen people from the food trade went round a route in the town centre as they took part in the second annual pancake race.

The six competitors are, from left, Linda Hagerty, Chris Hatch, Peter Cooke, Robert Boswell, Muriel Leader and John Donohue.

First home, with 16 laps behind him and his pancake still intact, was Chris Hatch, from Crudgington’s delicatessen.

Behind him, also on his 16th lap, came the aptly named Peter Cooke, of the Manna Café.

Third was John Donohue, of the Beetle and Wedge pub, with 13 laps, and Linda Hagerty, from the Poppin restaurant, was fourth with 12.

Robert Boswell, of Brown and Boswell’s restaurant, was fifth.

Last, despite her name, was Muriel Leader, of Pettit’s canteen.

For a grandmother, who admitted being the “oldest swinger in town”, her five laps were a game effort.

The race was organised by the Wallingford District Lions Club, which had given a frying pan mounted on polished wood as an annual trophy.

The winner also received a bottle of Champagne.

Wallingford Scouts counted the laps, and proceeds from the race went to the British Diabetic Association.

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