Liberal, Kan., wins annual pancake race

LIBERAL, Kan., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A Liberal, Kan., student won this year's annual pancake race, outrunning both her American challengers and the winner of the Olney, England, event.

Amanda Curtis, 18, covered the 415-yard course in 1 minute, 6.3 seconds, topping the run by Olney's Amanda Brear, 42, who posted a time of 1 minute, 9 seconds in the traditional Shrove Tuesday contest.

Curtis' mother also took part in the festivities, participating in the Last Chance race for runners 50 and over, said Joanne Combs, a spokeswoman for the Pancake Hall of Fame.

The rivalry between the two communities began in 1950, based on the tale of an Olney, England, housewife who in 1445 was startled in the midst of making pancakes by the church bell marking the start of the shriving service the day before Ash Wednesday.

Each competitor must flip her pancake three times during the race to church.