It is with sadness we report the passing of John Farrington (1942-2025).

Coached by the legendary Jack Pross, Farrington was Northern Suburbs’ king of the road. At the time of his passing in June 2025, John Farrington held the following club records, all set in the early 1970s:

·        5,000m – 13mins 59.0secs (1970)

·        15km Road Race – 43mins 11secs (12/8/1973, Sydney)

·        10km Cross Country – 30min 40 sec (Jul 7 1973)

·        20km Cross Country – 1hr 1min 20secs (20/6/1970, Gosford)

·        Marathon – 2hrs 11mins 12.6secs (1973, Sydney)

Farrington was Norths’ outstanding distance runner and was selected to represent Australia at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, finishing 43rd in the marathon. Farrington was then a controversial omission for the Australian team to the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and injury ruled him out of the 1972 Olympics in Munich, but he won selection for the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch where he finished fifth in the marathon.

Farrington dominated the early City to Surf fun runs, winning three successive races in 1972, 1973 and 1974 and is one of only three men to win the event three times. Of his three wins, his best time was 43mins 11secs in 1973 when the race started in George Street at the Town Hall. From 1977, the start was moved to College Street and the distance was reduced from 15.1km to 14km.

Farrington also claimed four national titles in the marathon (1969, 1970, 1974 and 1975). His personal best in the marathon, which remains the UTS Norths record, came at the 1973 NSW Championships where he ran 2hrs 11mins 12.6secs. It was the fastest marathon in the world that year.

Farrington ran 14 marathons in under 2hrs 20mins, the world class standard of that time. He won 11 marathons in his career.

Our thoughts are with John’s family and friends.

Prepared by Janet Naylon on behalf of the club