JCB lakeside 5 charity race under starter’s orders

On your marks… competitive racers and fun runners alike are being urged to sign up for the JCB Lakeside 5 and Fun Run fundraiser which comes under starter’s orders on Thursday July 9th.

Hundreds of racers are expected to join the popular evening five-mile race and two-mile fun run course around the JCB World Headquarters at Rocester – a firm favourite in the sporting calendar since the first event in 1983.

Last year saw more than 450 competitors take on the courses in challenging 28-degree heat. They helped to raise £4,300 for charity in what was founding organisers Mick Grindey and Charles Bevan’s final year at the helm. Both have run in every single JCB Lakeside since it was founded.

Former JCB employee Charles, of Abbots Bromley, is well-known for running the race in fancy dress and will be on the starting line again this year – just a few weeks shy of his 80 birthday.

Charles said: “The JCB Lakeside 5 is a fantastic family event and I will be running again this year with my son Jason dressed as a couple of popular film characters. In true tradition, we’ll be keeping the exact identity of those characters as a surprise for the night!”

This year’s race will also continue to celebrate the life of Steph Cordall who worked for JCB for almost 40 years and was among the 95 competitors on the starting line at the first ever race in 1983. Steph, of Cheadle,  died in May 2023 aged 60, and JCB established the Steph Cordall Memorial Trophy in her honour and it is now awarded to the first JCB female employee to finish.

Each year the event raises thousands of pounds for charity, with proceeds of this year’s run going to ‘The Queen’s Reading Room’ literacy charity. The Fun Run is open to all ages but under sevens must be accompanied by an adult while JCB Lakeside 5 racers must be 15 or over on the day of the race.

Both races begin at 7pm and registration in advance is recommended. Entry fees are: £16 for the Lakeside 5 and £7 for the fun run. To enter visit https://www.stuweb.co.uk/events/2026/07/9/4653/