Gazetteer: Ladies' outfits weren't a drag for runners

Published on Tuesday 27 May 2008 21:51

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

FANCY dress costumes are a familiar sight at fun runs nowadays but a team of runners from Read Well Services took the craze a stage further by cross-dressing for the recent Run Balmoral five-kilometre race.

David Blane, an accounts manger with the Aberdeen-based company, which supplies technology and services to the oil and gas industry, finished fourth out of 500 runners, with a time of 18 minutes.

Blane also led the cross-dressing team.

The four-man squad donned pink and black dresses, with one runner wearing a particularly fetching red off-the-shoulder number, complete with a blond wig.

In total, 15 members of staff formed four teams to take part in the race.

Blane said: "In preparation for the event, several members of staff went running round the science and technology park over lunch times, to make sure they got the necessary training under their belts".

Hopefully the practice sessions weren't in drag.

Other health initiatives from Read have included giving out free toothbrushes to staff.

FACT OF THE DAY

2.3m

MORE British workers than ever before are taking part in save-as-you-earn (SAYE) share schemes.

Almost 50 new SAYE plans have been introduced in the past year and the number of participants has risen from 1.7 million in 2006 to 2.3 million this year, according to IFS ProShare, a membership organisation representing the employee share ownership industry.

On average, members of SAYE schemes pay in 89 per month.

KILLER QUOTE

"I STILL believe there is a greater than 50 per cent probability of recession … that probability has receded a little and I think the probability of a severe recession has come down markedly."

Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, on the likelihood of a recession in the US economy.

GOOD DAY

Multiply UK

THEY'LL be raising a glass at the Edinburgh-based marketing agency after pulling off a hat trick of wins at the Institute of Sales Promotions Awards, winning three Silver Awards for work on promoting drink giant Maxxium's Absolut Disco vodka brand.

BAD DAY

Italian Electrolux workers

THE Swedish appliance maker is to axe 750 jobs in Italy and stop all production at its plant in Scandicci, south-west of Florence. Electrolux said it will concentrate production of refrigerators in Italy at its factory in Susegana in the north-east of the country.