James Joseph HOGAN

Born as one of nine children in a farming family in County Limerick, Jim Cregan had success locally and nationally in Ireland as a cross-country runner. He retired from the sport at the young age of 26 and he moved to England in 1960 to find work. He rediscovered the urge to run and soon changed his name by deed poll from Cregan to Hogan in the mistaken belief that this was needed to enable him to compete in Britain.

His performances in England brought him to the attention of the Irish selectors who chose him to compete at 10,000 metres and marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. Hogan made little impression on the track but things were very different on the roads. For mile after mile Hogan battled the legendary Abebe Bikila over the marathon course until, with an unlikely silver medal seemingly within his grasp, dehydration forced his body to give up on him and he was forced to retire with just three miles remaining.

By this time the ever opinionated Hogan was becoming disillusioned with the Irish athletics hierarchy, who he called the blazer-wearing brigade,  and especially with what he felt was discrimination against athletes based in England. In 1965 he turned his back on the green vest of Ireland and decided to compete for Great Britain instead. It was in his new colours that he recorded the biggest victory of his career when he won the marathon at the 1966 European Championships finishing nearly two minutes clear of two-time Boston Marathon winner (1963-64) Aurèle Vandendriessche.

He competed at the 1968 Olympics over 10,000 metres but age and altitude were against him and he finished 27th of the 32 finishers. During his career Hogan set a world best for 30km on the road, running 1:32:25, and also a European Indoor three-mile record of 13:37.2. Later in life Hogan returned to his native Limerick and to his first love of horses. He trained horses with some success in local point-to-point races well into the 21st century.

Personal Bests: 10000 – 28:49.66 (1965); Mar – 2-19:27 (1966).