Inter-Livery Pancake Race 2011

The City Livery Company of Poulters initiated an annual Shrove Tuesday race in 2004, bringing together teams drawn from livery companies linked in some way with making and consuming pancakes (the Poulters take the eggs, the Fruiterers the lemons and the Cutlers the plastic forks), as well as invited teams from the Mansion House, Guildhall and Old Bailey. Formerly known as the Poulters' Race and now called the Inter-Livery Pancake Race, the event creates and then skewers a traditional atmosphere of pomp and ceremony, as competitors dress in their ostentatious regalia as well as fancy dress and comedy hats. The winning team of four gets a commemorative frying pan, and the event is enlivened by a specially composed ditty performed by the Musicians' Company. Surplus money raised from the event and pancake sales is donated to the Lord Mayor's Charity.