Ajay, 27, and Dhiraj, 28, who are on 12-month secondments from JCB India’s factory in Pune, decided to don the colourful costumes – including patterned kurtas (upper garments) – for the two-mile fun run course.
They were part of a group of 10 JCB India employees, currently working in the UK, who competed in the fun run or the five-mile senior race, which took place at the same time around the company’s World Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire.
They were joined by Austrian Tristan Strobl, 19, who also added to the international feel of the 330-strong field running in the 34th annual event.
Mechanical Engineering student Tristan, who lives in Vienna, has five-weeks’ work experience with JCB in the UK. He admitted: “I got caught up in the fun and signed up to run.”
The event was also a big winner for charity with £3,252 being raised for the NSPCC in Staffordshire through entry fees.
Ajay – who is four months into his secondment with the JCB Hydradig team and is living in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire – 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. It was lovely to run with my JCB India colleagues and we celebrated when we all got over the finish line.”
Meanwhile, fancy dress was also the order of the day as race veterans Charles Bevan and Mick Grindey – who have taken part in every race so far – featured as a famous fairy tale double act – Beauty and The Beast.
Mick, 55, of Uttoxeter, ran as Beauty while Charles, 70, of Abbots Bromley accompanied him as The Beast.
JCB Engineer Mick – who also organises the event – joked: “It goes without saying I was Beauty and Charles was The Beast! Mind you, I’d never run in a dress before, it certainly was interesting.
“It was great fun running around the course together and getting cheered on. It was a good job it was a bit cooler on the night because with my wig and Charles’ beast mask, it was pretty warm anyway.”
Stone-based runner Ben Gamble was the overall winner of the Lakeside Five. The 35 year-old former policeman turned sports therapist, left the rest of the field in his wake to clock up a time of 26 minutes and nine seconds.
Meanwhile, veterinary surgeon Chloe Hawkins, 30, of Uttoxeter, was the first lady across the line in a time of 33 minutes and eight seconds.
The first JCB man was JCB Attachments Product Manager Dave Allen in 31 minutes and 36 seconds and the first JCB Lady to finish was HR Advisor Laura Watkinson, notching up 40 minutes and 15 seconds.
The event was sponsored by JCB Backhoe Loader with all those finishing receiving a distinctive medal to mark their achievement.
INTERNATIONAL FEEL SPICES UP 34TH ANNUAL LAKESIDE FIVE AND FUN RUN
Engineers Ajay Mahajan and Dhiraj Lokhande added a touch of eastern spice to JCB’s annual Lakeside Five and Fun Run when they completed the course wearing traditional Indian garb.