Mike Gowan joined Herne Hill Harriers in 1959 and was one of the outstanding Club athletes of the 1960’s.
Mike’s funeral will be on Tuesday 18th April at 12.00pm at Woking Crematorium, Hermitage Road, Woking GU21 8JJ and afterwards at Sutton Green Golf Club.
Although primarily a middle distance runner, Mike ran longer distances on the track, road and cross country.
He gained International Honours for England on the Track and Cross Country including finishing 4th in a 3 miles track home international in Grangemouth in 1967.
In 1965 he ran the Mile in 4min 01.0 sec on Motspur Park Track. A Harriers senior men’s club record which stood until January 2023.
Mike’s versatility in 1967 saw him finish 16th in the English National Cross Country Championship and then a week later win the Club’s Six Mile Road Race Championship followed nine days later on a cold March evening on the old Tooting Bec cinder track, he won the Club’s One Hour Championship.
He ran a distance of 19,500 metres (12 miles 212yds) which placed him 5th on the All Time British List and 10th in the World. This exceptional performance is still a Herne Hill men’s club record to this day.
1968 saw Mike win the South of Thames Senior Cross Country Championship.
After Mike retired from running he became a successful time trialist on a bike.
A great Clubman Mike will be missed by all those who either ran against him or watched him perform.
RIP Mike.
With thanks to John Gebbels for providing the words for this appreciation of one of our club’s finest ever athletes