Judy Farr, a resident at Goodson Lodge in Trowbridge, run by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) shared some of her sporting achievements for International Women’s Day (8 March).

The talented runner is the co-founder of the Avon Valley Runners, the club she started with her late husband Stan. Born in 1942 in Bovington Camp, Dorset, Judy became a member of the Trowbridge Athletics Club as a teenager and quickly excelled at racing in various distances on track and road.

Judy’s top sporting achievements include:

• Winning the 1.5-mile national title on the track at White City in 12m 31s in 1960, aged 18
• Breaking the 1-mile world record for women at Chiswick in 1965, running the mile in 7m 36.2s.
• Winning races at 10 national championships and representing England and Great Britain in many international events.
• Coming fourth in the first ever Women’s National Marathon Championship on the Isle of Wight in 1978, with a time of 3h 27m 57s.

Judy met her late husband, Stan, at Trowbridge Athletics Club. They later set up Avon Valley Runners club to cater for road and distance runners. The first club run took place on 1 January 1986, setting off from Stan and Judy’s house.

The eighty-two-year-old names fellow sports women Mary Rand, 1984 Long Jump Olympian and Lillian Board, who won a silver Olympic medal for the 400 metres, as her inspirations.

Judy’s advice for achieving goals is to, “show dedication and persevere to the goal ahead.” 

To find out more about life at Goodson Lodge, Trowbridge, or make an enquiry visit Goodson Lodge | Care Home in Trowbridge | OSJCT.