Jack Holden (athlete)
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Holden (March 13, 1907 – March 7, 2004) was a long-distance runner from England
, who won four consecutive national titles in the men's marathon (1947 to 1950). He represented Great Britain
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
, where he did not finish. He won the 1950 Commonwealth Games marathon in Auckland, despite being bitten by a dog.
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.
During 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.
Holden died in March 2004, six days before what would have been his 97th birthday.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who won four consecutive national titles in the men's marathon (1947 to 1950). He represented Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he did not finish. He won the 1950 Commonwealth Games marathon in Auckland, despite being bitten by a dog.
He was also a successful cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
runner, becoming the first man to win the International Cross Country Championships
International Cross Country Championships
The International Cross Country Championships was an annual international competition in cross country running. It was created in 1903 by the International Cross Country Union and it marked the first time that an annual international championships had been held for the sport.It began its life as...
four times, which he did between 1933 and 1939.
During the 1950s, Coseley
Coseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
Urban District
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
Council named a new road on the Woodcross
Woodcross
Woodcross is a residential area of Bilston, West Midlands, England. It is set within the borough of Wolverhampton, though the area existed within the boundaries of Sedgley and finally Coseley until 1966.History=...
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.
Holden died in March 2004, six days before what would have been his 97th birthday.