LEGAL eagles did not drop their eggs at this year's pancake race, with solicitors Field Seymour Parkes snatching the coveted golden saucepan.

Hundreds of spectators weathered the cold to line the race course fences of the Launchpad homeless charity run event on Broad Street this afternoon.

A total of 33 teams battled through the relay style competition, with three flips per racer required for a successful sprint.

As the heats sped up and a painful looking tumble ended last year's champions Blandy and Blandy's day, only three teams proved good enough for the final.

In one of the tightest showdowns in the event's 20 year history Field Seymour Parkes snatched the crown, pushing MFG IT services into second and Davis Tate property investors into third.

Reading Chronicle:

Silver medal winners MFG raced in style

Celebrating their victory, pancake tosser and lawyer Rory McGowan said: “It means everything to me really. We have been practising for this for a long time.

“Now we have to set our sights on next year's race. We are not satisfied with one victory. We want to build a legacy.

“There is a lot more to come from us.”

Echoing his team mate's sentiments before the solicitors headed to the after race business meet at Artgianos for a lunchtime beer, Richard Tweed added: “I have been working for the firm for two and a half years and I have been waiting for my call up to the pancake team for all of that time.

“I thought this was going to be my year and I was right.”

Reading Chronicle:

Field Seymour Parkes were not the only winners on the day however, with Calcot Children's Services receiving the third annual team spirit award from Reading Mayor Mohammed Ayub.

Broad Street Mall, who lost in the battle of the shopping centres to The Oracle, won best dressed for their cumbersome mascot costumes.