There was a pedestrian pace about this year’s pancake races in Huntingdon town centre today (Tuesday).

But that was nothing to do with any lack of training and everything to do with the new rules which banned running.

Instead, competitors had to negotiate the coned-off course as quickly as possible, flipping as they went, and were warned that breaking into a run would result in disqualification.

First off was the chain gang, the race which in previous years had seen two councillors end up with injuries.

This time there was no drama as the mayors of Huntingdon, Ramsey and St Ives, councillors Bill Hensley, Ian Curtis and Nick Dibben stuck to the new speed limit.

“We were aiming for a tie,” said Cllr Dibben. “It’s a race fixing scandal.”

The photo finish revealed that Cllr Dibben had crossed the line first, just ahead of Cllr Hensley and Cllr Curtis.

In total, there were more than 20 heats, or flips as organisers from Huntingdon Town Council were calling them, and there were medals for first and second place, Easter eggs for the winners and Cadbury Creme Eggs for all who took part.

Competitors included entrants from Huntingdonshire Regional College, Huntingdon Community Centre’s Moving On and Live to Learn scheme and the Papworth Trust.

Pupils from Spring Common in Huntingdon, Hartford Junior School and St Peter’s School also took part in the flipathon.

The hotly-contested retail relay included teams from social landlord Luminus, RAF Alconbury chapel, Huntingdon firm Encocam and the British Heart Foundation, with Luminus gaining first place for some stylish flipping, despite being last to cross the line.

Cllr Hensley said the new format had been flipping marvellous. “It was much better than pancake races - and safer. No one broke anything this year.”