Byrne’s To Serve As Grand Marshall’s For Pancake Day Parade

Devon and Lesley Byrne of Olney, England, will serve as grand marshals for the Pancake Day parade, set to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Devon Byrne, 21, currently holds the International Race title, having won the race the last three years in a row. She set a new record time last year of 55.6 seconds on the 415-yard course, breaking her own 2013 record time of 56 seconds.
Devon’s mother, Lesley, won the Olney race in 1988, 1989, and 1993. In 1988 and 1989, she also beat Liberal’s winners to earn the International title.
Devon, who is studying math and sports science at Loughborough University, will be visiting America for the first time.
“It will be a once in a lifetime trip and to be going with my mum will make it that bit more special and memorable,” Devon said.
She is also looking forward to checking out American culture and meeting all the people of Liberal.
Lesley, who teaches physical education in a special needs school, says, “I am looking forward to being in Wizard of Oz country, which will really impress some of the children I teach.”
She is excited to see Pancake Day, Kansas-style, as the Liberal celebration stretches over four days, while in Olney everything takes place on Pancake Day.
The parade was moved to Saturday this year in an effort to increase participation, and that seems to be working, according to Mike Brack, co-chair.
“We already have more entries that we did the last couple of years,” he said.
There is room for more, Brack said, and parade organizers are still accepting entries. This year’s theme is “Get Your Flips at Pancake Day 66.”
There is no entry fee, and any group or individual is invited to enter a float in one of the following divisions: commercial, non-profit, schools, antique automobiles, and antique equipment. Cash prizes of $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place will be awarded in each division. Entrants do not have to live in Liberal.
The parade, sponsored each year by the Liberal Rotary Club, will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and run down Kansas Ave. from 11th to Trail St.
Entry forms are available at www.pancakeday.net <http://www.pancakeday.net> . Completed entry forms may be faxed to (620) 626-7887 or emailed to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . For more information on the parade, call Janet Willimon at (620) 655-2642 or Mike Brack at (620) 482-0466.