Jack Holden (runner)

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).

Jack Holden
Holden on the January 1951 cover of World Sports Magazine
Personal information
Born13 March 1907
Bilston, West Midlands, England
Died7 March 2004 (aged 96)
Cockermouth, Cumbria, England
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)3 miles – marathon
ClubTipton Harriers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Marathon – 2:31:03.4 (1950)[1][2]
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
European Athletics Championships
Gold medal – first place 1950 Brussels Marathon
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1950 Auckland Marathon
International Cross Country Championships
Silver medal – second place1929 Vincennes Team (18 ind)
Gold medal – first place1930 Leamington Team (7 ind)
Gold medal – first place1931 Dublin Team (6 ind)
Silver medal – second place1932 Brussels Individual
Gold medal – first place1932 Brussels Team
Gold medal – first place1933 Caerlon Individual
Gold medal – first place1933 Caerlon Team
Gold medal – first place1934 Ayr Individual
Gold medal – first place1934 Ayr Team
Gold medal – first place1935 Paris Individual
Gold medal – first place1935 Paris Team
Silver medal – second place1936 Blackpool Individual
Gold medal – first place1936 Blackpool Team
Gold medal – first place1938 Belfast Team (6 ind)
Gold medal – first place1939 Cardiff Individual
Silver medal – second place1939 Cardiff Team
Bronze medal – third place1946 Ayr Team (6 ind)

Athletics career

He 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

During 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 in honour of this local sporting legend. On 23 July 1952, Jack Holden's Gardens were opened on Queens Road, Tipton.[5]

Holden died in March 2004, six days before his 97th birthday. He was survived by daughter Joan and son-in-law Brian.[3]

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Jack Holden". trackfield.brinkster.net.
  3. Marathon and Cross Country legend Jack Holden passes away. IAAF (10 March 2004). Retrieved on 2011-01-27.
  4. International Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 14 February 2011.
  5. Brief History of Tipton. tiptoncivicsociety.co.uk


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