vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
Only if he wants to be Dutch.
Greatest British athlete/sports person?
- Thread starter ComedyPilot
- Start date
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Only if he wants to be Dutch.
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
To qualify for entering the Rose of Tralee competotion you have to be female and have a parent or grandparent that is/was Irish.
I like the nationality flexibility of the Irish.
Here's to Miss Rose of Tralee, Singapore.
I like the nationality flexibility of the Irish.
Here's to Miss Rose of Tralee, Singapore.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
To my mind it does, and there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that.
Farah could be from Mars - he runs for Team GB now.
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Surely if both parents were Dutch he would be Double Dutch?
Keith Oates
Janner
- Location
- Penarth, Wales
Well being in China it means that I've had excellent TV coverage of all of the current IAAF Championship events and have been lucky enough to see Mo Farah win both the 5000 and 10000 metre races. His final lap in the 5000 race was something to behold.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dayvo
just passin' through
- Location
- 59° 50′ 5.55″ N, 10° 47′ 41.89″ E
My workmate was born in Norway and has only ever lived in Norway. Norwegian is his 'native' language. Both his parents are from Holland (they still live here), but he is not allowed to have a Norwegian passport, as the 'authorities' here deem him to be Dutch.
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
Now explain away the entrants whose oriental appearance ties in with the geographical location of their entry.
DiddlyDodds
Random Resident
- Location
- Littleborough
Here is the greatest we have ever had ....
"At his peak, he achieved an ambition to run 100 miles and drink 100 pints in a single week; and he would regularly perform an after-race trick of drinking a pint while standing on his head — once while he was up a tree."
Andy Holden, who has died aged 65, was a UK record holder for the 3,000m steeplechase and an athlete of remarkable versatility, achieving the unique feat of representing Great Britain in five distance running disciplines: roads, cross-country, fells, and indoors and outdoors on track.
In an era when the enthusiastic amateur could still excel in athletics, Holden — a dentist by profession — managed to compete at the highest level without sacrificing his passion for real ale. He reputedly drank 10 pints of beer the night before winning the Bermuda marathon in 1979, a race which saw him break Ron Hill’s course record and beat a world-class field that included Charlie Spedding, who would take the bronze medal in the marathon at the Los Angeles Olympics five years later.
Andy Holden (centre) chasing Dave Bedford (right) and Jack Lane (left)
John Andrew Holden was born on October 22 1948 at Leyland, Lancashire, and showed exceptional ability as an athlete from a young age . He studied Dentistry at Birmingham University and, after qualifying, remained in the West Midlands, eventually setting up his own practice at Coseley, near Dudley.
He secured his first major title in 1969, when he won the English junior cross-country championships ahead of the future 10,000m world record holder Dave Bedford, and the following year competed at the Commonwealth Games. He was at the European Championships in 1971, and at the 1972 Olympics in Munich — in that year he also set the UK 3,000m steeplechase record (8m 26.4 sec).
Holden won World cross-country gold with the England team in 1979, but by now he was also making his name in marathons: he was victorious three times in the Bermuda event, and also won in Hong Kong.
His habitual good humour was sorely tested in the Belfast Marathon in 1986 when, after striding clear of the field, he was led astray by the lead car, which twice took him on the wrong route — at seven miles and again at 22. He still managed to finish second in the race (beaten by 10 seconds), but was able to joke with journalists afterwards: “It’s just one of those things which happen — it was an Irish marathon.”
Holden was a dedicated coach to hundreds of youngsters at his club, Tipton Harriers; and despite his achievements he liked nothing better than to turn out for Tipton, however small the meeting, flogging across many a muddy field in club cross-country events across Britain. It was team victories in the national cross-country championships and 12-stage road relays that he most treasured.
Noted in the close-knit athletics community for his joviality and humility, Holden was also held in awe for his ability to consume seemingly enormous quantities of ale while continuing to perform to the highest standards. At his peak, he achieved an ambition to run 100 miles and drink 100 pints in a single week; and he would regularly perform an after-race trick of drinking a pint while standing on his head — once while he was up a tree. The great Olympian Steve Cram once said to him: “I wish I was an athlete in your day — it sounded much more fun.”
In his professional life, Holden was opposed to the privatisation of dentistry, fearing that those in need could find it more difficult to access services, and he remained an NHS-only dentist throughout his career. He was a staunch supporter of the homeless charity Crisis.
On one of his training runs, Holden came across a dog which had been weighed down with bricks and left to drown in a canal. He adopted it, and Schnicky became his faithful companion, for some years enthusiastically accompanying its owner when he went running.
Andy Holden, who three years ago suffered an aortic aneurysm, is survived by his wife, Paula, and by their three sons and one daughter.
Andy Holden, born October 22 1948, died January 4 2014
"At his peak, he achieved an ambition to run 100 miles and drink 100 pints in a single week; and he would regularly perform an after-race trick of drinking a pint while standing on his head — once while he was up a tree."
Andy Holden, who has died aged 65, was a UK record holder for the 3,000m steeplechase and an athlete of remarkable versatility, achieving the unique feat of representing Great Britain in five distance running disciplines: roads, cross-country, fells, and indoors and outdoors on track.
In an era when the enthusiastic amateur could still excel in athletics, Holden — a dentist by profession — managed to compete at the highest level without sacrificing his passion for real ale. He reputedly drank 10 pints of beer the night before winning the Bermuda marathon in 1979, a race which saw him break Ron Hill’s course record and beat a world-class field that included Charlie Spedding, who would take the bronze medal in the marathon at the Los Angeles Olympics five years later.
Andy Holden (centre) chasing Dave Bedford (right) and Jack Lane (left)
John Andrew Holden was born on October 22 1948 at Leyland, Lancashire, and showed exceptional ability as an athlete from a young age . He studied Dentistry at Birmingham University and, after qualifying, remained in the West Midlands, eventually setting up his own practice at Coseley, near Dudley.
He secured his first major title in 1969, when he won the English junior cross-country championships ahead of the future 10,000m world record holder Dave Bedford, and the following year competed at the Commonwealth Games. He was at the European Championships in 1971, and at the 1972 Olympics in Munich — in that year he also set the UK 3,000m steeplechase record (8m 26.4 sec).
Holden won World cross-country gold with the England team in 1979, but by now he was also making his name in marathons: he was victorious three times in the Bermuda event, and also won in Hong Kong.
His habitual good humour was sorely tested in the Belfast Marathon in 1986 when, after striding clear of the field, he was led astray by the lead car, which twice took him on the wrong route — at seven miles and again at 22. He still managed to finish second in the race (beaten by 10 seconds), but was able to joke with journalists afterwards: “It’s just one of those things which happen — it was an Irish marathon.”
Holden was a dedicated coach to hundreds of youngsters at his club, Tipton Harriers; and despite his achievements he liked nothing better than to turn out for Tipton, however small the meeting, flogging across many a muddy field in club cross-country events across Britain. It was team victories in the national cross-country championships and 12-stage road relays that he most treasured.
Noted in the close-knit athletics community for his joviality and humility, Holden was also held in awe for his ability to consume seemingly enormous quantities of ale while continuing to perform to the highest standards. At his peak, he achieved an ambition to run 100 miles and drink 100 pints in a single week; and he would regularly perform an after-race trick of drinking a pint while standing on his head — once while he was up a tree. The great Olympian Steve Cram once said to him: “I wish I was an athlete in your day — it sounded much more fun.”
In his professional life, Holden was opposed to the privatisation of dentistry, fearing that those in need could find it more difficult to access services, and he remained an NHS-only dentist throughout his career. He was a staunch supporter of the homeless charity Crisis.
On one of his training runs, Holden came across a dog which had been weighed down with bricks and left to drown in a canal. He adopted it, and Schnicky became his faithful companion, for some years enthusiastically accompanying its owner when he went running.
Andy Holden, who three years ago suffered an aortic aneurysm, is survived by his wife, Paula, and by their three sons and one daughter.
Andy Holden, born October 22 1948, died January 4 2014
Billy Wizz
Veteran
- Location
- North Wales
Barry Sheene.
Henry Cooper.
Nigel Mansell.
Chris Boardman.
Mr Wiggins,i could go on...
Mr Foster had a peculiar look on his face when he blurted his excited comment..
Henry Cooper.
Nigel Mansell.
Chris Boardman.
Mr Wiggins,i could go on...
Mr Foster had a peculiar look on his face when he blurted his excited comment..
HertzvanRental
Veteran
Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Joss Naylor?? fell-running legend
Rob Jebb?? 'Three-Peaks Fell-Race' 4 time winner, 'Three-Peaks Cyclo-Cross' 11 times winner!!!!, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyrunner_World_Series#2005
I forgot about Alf, I've got that book too!!
Rob Jebb?? 'Three-Peaks Fell-Race' 4 time winner, 'Three-Peaks Cyclo-Cross' 11 times winner!!!!, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyrunner_World_Series#2005
I forgot about Alf, I've got that book too!!
Mad Doug Biker
Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
- Location
- Craggy Island
I was pretty good in my day
When Rockaay likes to reminice, he always starts
'When I was a girl back in East Germany...'
Is (s)he German or British?? Ohhh the dilemma!!
Sorry, wrong thread
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Don't know what the question mark's for. Derek Ibbotson WAS the first man to run a four minute mile. And he ran several of them. Unless you can prove different?
