.jpg) Holden on the January 1951 cover ofWorld Sports Magazine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personalbest | Marathon – 2:31:03.4 (1950)[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Thomas Holden (13 March 1907 – 7 March 2004) was along-distance runner from England, who won four consecutive national titles in themarathon (1947–1950).
Holden finished second behindJohn Potts in the 3 miles event and second behindJames Wood in the 10 miles event at the1932 AAA Championships.[3][4]
Holden then became thenational 6 miles champion after winning the BritishAAA Championships title at the1933 AAA Championships. After retaining his 6 miles title and becomingnational 10 miles champion at the1934 AAA Championships,[5] Holden competed forEngland in the 3 and 6 miles at the1934 British Empire Games in London.[6]
Holden continued to gain success in British long distance running, winning the 6 miles AAA title at the1935 AAA Championships.[7][8] He competed forEngland at the 1938 British Empire Games in the 6 miles and marathon.[9]
He represented Great Britain at the1948 Summer Olympics in London, but abandoned the race due to foot blisters. He won the1950 Empire Games marathon in Auckland, running the last nine miles barefoot after his shoes fell apart during the race.[10]
He was also a successfulcross country runner, becoming the first man to win theInternational Cross Country Championships four times, which he did between 1933 and 1939.[11]
DuringWorld War II Holden served with theRoyal Air Force. In the 1950s,CoseleyUrban DistrictCouncil named a new road on theWoodcross housing estateJack Holden Avenue. On 23 July 1952, Jack Holden's Gardens were opened on Queens Road, Tipton.[12]
Holden died in March 2004, at age 96. He was survived by daughter Joan and son-in-law Brian.[10]
| Marathon |
|
|---|---|
| Half marathon |
|
   | This biographical article about an English long-distance runner is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
