Ron Hill RIP

moulesy replied on 23/05/2021 16:54

moulesy

Posted on 23/05/2021 16:54

One of the greats of British athletics and a personal hero of my younger days, Ron Hill has died at the age of 82.

He inspired so many non athletes to take up distance running, won medals at Commonwealth and European championships and was the first Briton to win the famous Boston marathon.

He ran at least a mile every day for over 50 years until his late 70's including several occasions with broken bones and other injuries.

He organised so many mass participation events including the annual Tour of Tameside, a double marathon run over 5 days, various distances and surfaces, and I once had the great privilege of running alongside him (for a very short distance!) in this event.

A sad loss to British sport; another of our great innovators has passed.

Ron Hill RIP.

2 people like this

3 replies

Wherenext replied on 23/05/2021 19:34

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Wherenext

Caravanner

Posted on 23/05/2021 19:34

Agree with you entirely M.

Still have a pair of Ron Hills. He did inspire my all too short attempt at Distance Running back in my early Grammar school days but alas the cricket team claimed me. Just as well as I could manage the 22 yards a lot easier than the longer distances.

ABM replied on 23/05/2021 22:52

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ABM

Motorhomer

Posted on 23/05/2021 22:52

I only ever ran any distance when I was late for school, but Ron Hill was always a hero of boys at my school, mainly because he was but a few years older than us, and so somebody we could always hope to emulate.