acs has been a sponsor of Cranfield University’s 5K Race and 2K Fun Run for the past 4 years. At the 2003 event, acs manager Ron Hadaway rashly suggested to Mike Devonshire – race director of Cranfield University - that acs staff
actually take part in the 5K race this year on July 11th.
Two months before the event, acs’s team of nine (including a disgruntled Ron) dusted off their legs and started training around Northampton.
The proceeds of this year’s event were designated for Sport Relief and the team, supported by stalwart members of acs staff and families, duly arrived at Cranfield University, ready to give their all.
There was a really good turn-out this year, encouraged by the unexpectedly fine weather: there were 406 finishers for the main race and 82 for the fun run, with many 5k runners entering the fun run as a warmup to raise yet more money for Sport Relief!
If you ignore the regular club runners in the line-up, acs’s results weren’t bad, with substitute-on-the-night Mick Knight going like a rocket, fuelled by six pints of lager. However, even he couldn’t beat dastardly Jon Thorpe – Joint Managing Director – who had been sneakily training
in secret. The evening was rounded off with an excellent barbecue (and a few more lagers for Mick), a raffle (including a Hewlett-Packard colour printer donated by acs) and the prize-giving. About £1500 was raised on the night, with many pledges still to be included.
The event has grown over the years and over a hundred potential runners were unable to be included. However, next year it is hoped that the numbers will increase to 550.
One thing you can be sure of, acs wont miss it!
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