Last updated 22 March 2003
John Robinson, President for 2003/4
Prior
to taking up running John's sport was rugby. He was introduced to the Club
by John Partington in 1981 and his initial interest was in marathons. He has run
the London on three occasion, plus Dublin twice, the New York and Auckland, New
Zealand. His best time was 3 hrs and 47 seconds and he is sure that he would
have been inside the 3hrs had he not injured his hamstring during the
race. His slowest time was 3 hrs 41 minutes which included two pints on
the way round!
He has also run the Kent 20 miles champs, a number of half
marathons, 5,7.5 and 10 mile Club cross country championships, mob matches,
local road races and the One hour run.
As a veteran he has represented Northern Ireland three
times at cross country and also Kent.
The hamstring injury he sustained made him move down in
distance and having linked up with coach Steve Cluney and gained Paul Austridge
as a training partner he turned to track competition.
He is arguably the Club's most versatile athlete having
competed in the 60 metres, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 2000 and 3000
steeplechases, 110 and 400 hurdles, 2km, 3km and 5 mile walks and on the field
in the high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot, discus, javelin and
hammer.
He is one of the Club's most regular field event judges
and also does track judging and time keeping. As well as this he has been
coaching four days a week at Ladywell and Norman Park, has become known as the
custodian of the Nike tent, and has been Head Of Active Athletics for over 5
years.
He regularly attends social functions at the Club where on
occasions he has sung for the membership. He is also a member of St Bart's choir
and has appeared on television. He currently works for an import company. John
was made a Vice President of the Club in 1997 by Mike Martineau.
