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Rain doesn’t dampen spirits as couple scoop honours in JCB’s annual fun run
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Heavy rain showers couldn’t dampen the spirits as charity fundraising and a romantic connection dominated JCB’s 26th annual Lakeside 5 fun run.
A maximum field of 500 competitors braved torrential conditions overhead and soggy terrain underfoot to take part in the popular five mile senior race and three mile fun run around JCB’s picturesque World Headquarters in Rocester.
And despite the “typical” British Summer weather, a friendly atmosphere helped warm up proceedings with entrants also raising hundreds of pounds for JCB’s £2 million NSPCC Reaching Out to Children in Staffordshire campaign, the event’s chosen charity.
This year’s winner was 26-year-old Ben Gamble of Stone Master Marathoners, who clocked up a time of 25 minutes and 59 seconds to make it a hat trick of victories. But he also had a double reason to celebrate on the night because the first woman past the post was his partner and fellow running club member Amy Cope.
Amy, who works for JCB as a Group Financial Reporting Manager was thrilled that the couple, who live in Stone, Staffordshire, had made it a double success. Amy, 33, said: “This is absolutely fantastic. This is my first time running this race so I am really thrilled I am the first lady over the line. The fact that my partner Ben has won for the third time is also a great achievement.”
Ben added: “I was really pleased with my time given the conditions and when I heard that Amy had won too, I was really, really pleased. We can have a double celebration now!”
Other frontline competitors included the first JCB man Craig Jeffrey, of JCB Service Aftermarket Training, who turned in a time of 28 minutes 20 seconds and the winner of the junior race –
16-year-old Robert Swift of Stubwood, near Rocester, Staffordshire.
Many other participants made the gloomy night a touch more colourful. JCB Electrical Engineer Charles Bevan, 62, continued his tradition of running every one of the 26 fun runs in fancy dress. This year he teamed up with his son Jason, 39, for a costume double act of “Mr Rotivator and
Mr Excavator“.
Meanwhile, Charles’ inspirational nephew Simon Beresford continued to defy the odds by competing in the race for the second year on the trot despite having Downs Syndrome.
Simon, 41, of Lichfield is the only person with the condition to have completed the London Marathon and has raised more than £20,000 for the Down’s Syndrome Association through sponsored races.
Also raising a smile were JCB Transmissions Receptionist Julie Jones and HR Administrator
Julie Davies. After finishing work that afternoon, the duo made the 160 mile round trip from their factory in Wrexham to take part in the three mile fun run at 6.30pm, only to finish last.
Julie Jones said: “We never came to win the race so where we finished didn’t matter. We just wanted to be here and take part and help with the fundraising. It doesn’t matter about the length of the trip - we had a fun evening.”
Event Organiser Mick Smith said: “Once again JCB employees and their families have excelled themselves and made it a great evening despite the wet conditions. “We have had a near record turnout and that has included a lot of competitive runners from clubs in Staffordshire and the
North Staffordshire Roadrunners Association. “In fact, the field was 500 on the night - the maximum we could have - showing how popular it has become.”
This year’s event was sponsored by JCB Loadall, and in a break with tradition, instead of medals everyone who crossed the finish line received an eye-catching limited edition glass paperweight containing a three dimensional image of a JCB Loadall.
JCB Loadall Managing Director Mark Turner said: “I would like to warmly congratulate everyone who has taken part and say thank you to all the organisers and volunteers who made it possible.
“Who would have thought the weather could have been this terrible in the middle of July? Nevertheless it did not dampen any spirits; the runners were magnificent and everyone had a smile on their faces.”