John Thomas Holden (13 March 1907 – 7 March 2004) was a long-distance runner from England, who won four consecutive national titles in the marathon (1947–1950).
.jpg) Holden on the January 1951 cover of World Sports Magazine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 13 March 1907 Bilston, West Midlands, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 March 2004 (aged 96) Cockermouth, Cumbria, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | 3 miles – marathon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Tipton Harriers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best | Marathon – 2:31:03.4 (1950)[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Athletics career
editHe represented Great Britain at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, but abandoned the race due to foot blisters. He won the 1950 Empire Games marathon in Auckland, running the last nine miles barefoot after his shoes fell apart during the race.[3]
He competed for England in the 3 and 6 miles at the 1934 British Empire Games in London. He competed for England at the 1938 British Empire Games in the 6 miles and marathon.
He was also a successful cross country runner, becoming the first man to win the International Cross Country Championships four times, which he did between 1933 and 1939.[4]
Personal life
editDuring World War II Holden served with the Royal Air Force. In the 1950s, Coseley Urban District Council named a new road on the Woodcross housing estate Jack Holden Avenue. On 23 July 1952, Jack Holden's Gardens were opened on Queens Road, Tipton.[5]
Holden died in March 2004, at age 96. He was survived by daughter Joan and son-in-law Brian.[3]
References
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jack Holden". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012.
- ^ "Jack Holden". trackfield.brinkster.net.
- ^ a b Marathon and Cross Country legend Jack Holden passes away. IAAF (10 March 2004). Retrieved on 2011-01-27.
- ^ International Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 14 February 2011.
- ^ Brief History of Tipton. tiptoncivicsociety.co.uk
External links
edit- Jack Holden Obituary. The Times. 26 March 2004
- Simon Turnbull (11 January 2004) Athletics: Magical memories of those olden Holden golden days. The Independent
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