By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
A 110-year-old race through the streets of Paris by waiters and waitresses balancing a tray bearing a croissant, coffee cup and a glass of water, without spilling anywhere, was revived on Sunday, 24 March 2024, after a 13-year gap.
The course was a 2-kilometre loop starting and finishing at the Paris City Hall.
The competitors were not allowed to run, and points would be deducted if they did so, and also for any water spilled.
The winners were Pauline Van Wymeersch and Samy Lamrous in times of 14 minutes and 12 seconds and 13 minutes and 30 seconds respectively.
Wymeersch waits at Le Petit Pont Cafe and Restaurant and Lamrous waits at La Contrescarpe.
Their prizes: a medal, two tickets each for the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony and a night out at a Paris Hotel.
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, remarked that “cafes and restaurants are really the soul of Paris.”
The event is a nice curtain raiser to the Paris Summer Olympics!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘