A TASTE OF INDIA SPICES UP 34TH ANNUAL LAKESIDE FIVE AND FUN RUN

Engineer Ajay Mahajan will be adding a touch of eastern spice to JCB’s annual Lakeside Five and Fun Run when he takes on the course wearing traditional Indian dress.
 
Ajay, 27, who is on a 12-month secondment from JCB India’s factory in Pune, has decided to don the colourful costume for the two mile fun run course.  Meanwhile, his JCB India colleague, Dhanraj Veer, 28, has decided to enter the longer five-mile senior race – but because of the distance has opted to compete wearing more conventional running gear.

The races take place at the same time around the company’s World Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire. A field of up to 400 people is set to take their marks for the event, which is now in its 34th year and takes place on Thursday, 13 July at 7pm to raise money for the NSPCC, JCB’s nominated charity.
 
Ajay - who is four months into his secondment with the JCB Hydradig team at JCB heavy Products in Uttoxeter - said: “I wanted to really enter into the fun spirit of the event so I thought it would be a good idea to wear the cultural clothing of my homeland.”
 
JCB Loadall Engineer Dhanraj, 28, who is 10 months into a 12 month secondment at the World HQ from JCB India in Pune, added: "We both took part in the JCB Mud Run earlier this month and that really whet our appetites – we can’t wait to get underway.”

Meanwhile, fancy dress is also the order of the day as race veterans Charlie Bevan and Mick Grindey – who have taken part in every race so far ­– will feature as the famous fairy-tale double act Beauty and The Beast.

Mick, 55, of Uttoxeter, will run as Beauty while Charles, 70, of Abbots Bromley will accompany him as The Beast. 
 
JCB Engineer Mick – who also organises the event – said “It goes without saying I’m Beauty and Charles is The Beast! Mind you, I’ve never run in a dress before, it certainly will be interesting.”