Tipton Harriers stalwart Andy Holden dies, aged 65

Club president Ron Bentley today described Mr Holden, as a personal friend and said he will be 'missed by thousands'.

Mr Holden died at the weekend aged 65.

Club president Ron Bentley today paid tribute to the athlete and said his death was a 'tremendous loss'.

Mr Bentley said Mr Holden had four children and leaves behind wife Paula.

"He is the greatest club man Tipton has ever seen," said Mr Bentley.

As a young man, in Leyland, Mr Holden was a member of Preston A.C. and became the mainstay of many Lancashire cross country teams during his early racing years.

He won the National Junior Cross Country Championship in 1969 at Parliament Hill Fields in London and was a multiple Great Britain international over the roads, cross country, fells and on the track, both indoor and out, during the 1970s and early 1980s, competing as an international at junior, senior and veteran level.

He competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1970, European Championships in 1971 and the Olympics in 1972. He won gold with England teams during the 1970s at the World Cross Country Championships.

Mr Holden went to University in Birmingham in 1968 where he studied dentistry and edited the campus newsletter Redbrick from 1969 to 1970. He also helped establish the annual 'Past vs Present' races.

He qualified as a dentist and worked at a number of practices around the Birmingham and Black Country area.

Mr Holden was multiple medal winner in the classic harrier events such as the National Road Relays and English Cross Country Championships.

The Tipton Harriers website states: "When he joined Tipton Harriers so began a competitive club record that remains to this day. Andy's presence persuaded other top runners, to throw their hat in with the club. It was quoted once that Andy's 'commitment to athletics is what earned him an immediate respect'." Ron Bentley added: "We had a strong team, but not a winning team and when Andy joined he was the missing link. He joined us together and made us the biggest team in the country. It is a tremendous loss. He cannot be replaced."

Mr Holden was also a regular at the Manx Easter Athletics Festival on the Isle of Man and he could also be found racing anywhere from a lowly Midland Track and Field League Meeting at Tipton up to the international glare of a televised meeting at Crystal Palace.

The website adds: "He simply enjoyed the simple thrill of running and racing. He had a long career, occasionally interrupted with injury, but enjoyed success well into the veteran ranks during the 1990's.

"As was once said of him 'He might not have scaled the heights of athletic success in terms of medals and records, he is at least satisfied that he has done his best and, just as importantly, has had a damn good time doing it'.

As well as dentistry he established a running shop in Sparkbrook in Birmingham during the early 1980s as the running boom took off. In athletics he also held many administrative and promotional posts at club and area level.

He also coached a number of groups of young athletes over the years at Tipton.

Outside athletics he was involved with many charities and good causes and would always help out those less fortunate or those in need. He helped out for many years with the Crisis At Christmas organisation, providing food and shelter for homeless Midlands people over the festive period.

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