Mick Ligema

News

One of the stalwarts of the club, Mick Ligema, has just died, having fallen ill shortly after a run. Because of failing eye-sight he hadn’t competed much of late, but has a proud record of achievements, particularly on the fell-running scene, where he had been Midland Fell Running champion. He also still holds the record for the Croft cross-country course. Our sympathies go out to his wife and family, following his very sudden, early death aged just 60.

19 thoughts on “Mick Ligema

  1. I am deeply shocked by this news I only saw Mick by chance just before Christmas.
    An fantastic man whom will be greatly missed and a top athlete achieving many records
    RIP Mick
    condolences to his family

  2. Heard this terrible news earlier this afternoon. such a shock, this has shaken me to the core.
    The world will definitely be a poorer place without him. my heart felt condolences to his wife and family, an exceptional athlete , a good friend and a thoroughly nice guy, will be missed by all who knew him.

  3. Such a shock and a sad loss to all of those on the fell running scene. His encouraging words will be truly missed. Sending my condolances at this difficult time.

  4. What a terrible shock. The last time I saw Mick was at Darrens Dash, where he comfortably beat me, which was usually the case in recent years. I have had many good races against him since I moved to Herefordshire 20 years ago. I never raced him when at his peak, but he was clearly a talented and determined runner and a thoroughly good bloke. My deepest sympathy to his wife and family.

  5. Frank has it right..the world will be a much poorer place without him..a dark horse, we need to outline his achievements a bit more if we can. Love to Jan and his family. I took an educated guess that he was running right to the end..well done Mick!

  6. Words can’t do justice to describe this loss.
    I am shocked as I’m sure we all are. He was truly an inspiration, mentor and dearest friend.

  7. A shock indeed. I bumped into Mick very recently in the Ledbury library – the Master’s House, in whose restoration he had played a part as the Project Manager. We had last met at Croft two years before. During an animated chat he told me about his glaucoma and that he had had a heart attack, without realizing it. We had both given up driving, for different reasons, and we talked about adapting to changed circumstances. I was taken aback when he quoted Cat Stevens:-

    And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
    Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won’t have to work no more.

    And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
    Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won’t have to cry no more.

    These are from the song Moonshadow on the Tea for the Tillerman album.

    Upon Mick’s sudden departure I feel that these lyrics have an intimate connection with him, that they are his message to all those he leaves behind. And so I reproduce them in full, in his memory:-

    Oh, I’m bein’ followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow—
    Leapin and hoppin’ on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow—

    And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
    Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won’t have to work no more.

    And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
    Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won’t have to cry no more.

    [Chorus]

    And if I ever lose my legs, I won’t moan, and I won’t beg,
    Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won’t have to walk no more.

    And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
    Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won’t have to talk…

    Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
    Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?

    [Chorus]
    Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow

  8. Really gutted to hear about Mick. I only saw him at the boxing day race.
    I remember when I started running he did take the time to give me a few of his training programmes and he was always good for advice. Real quiet gentleman and thoroughly lovely bloke. His achievements on the running scene were remarkable, with amazing times in events such as the half marathon and all the cross country races.
    Condolences to his family

  9. Shocked and saddened to hear this news. Mick will be greatly missed by his friends in the Herefordshire running community and beyond. We will think of him at our next XC league races.

  10. What a shock, Mick was always on hand for support and advice in my running days with Croft. Just wanted to add my condolences to Janet and family, thinking of you at this difficult time.

  11. So shocked and saddened to hear this terrible news today. Mick was such an encouragement to my son Tim when he started racing against him. Lovely friendly man.

  12. I will always think of Mick as a kind and gentle man and an amazing and dedicated athelete. Although I did not see him often it was always good to see him and he was always positive. I saw him not long before Christmas at the Leisure Centre in Hereford. He was very upbeat and said ‘I am 60 now you know.’ I could hardly believe it, he looked little different to when I first met him not much short of 30 years ago. I was very sad to hear this news. Condolences and my thoughts to Jan and family.

  13. Steve Herington
    Jan 6 (3 days ago)

    to Mike
    Hi Mike,

    Just heard of Mick’s death. I had no idea he’d had any heart problems.
    It’s so sad. He really was one of the loveliest, most entertaining guys I’ve ever come across in running. I always liked warming up with him and talking over the race once it was done. He was fiercely competitive but after we’d finished there was never a trace of arrogance, condescension or excuses, just the joy of reflecting on what we’d been through and true generosity of spirit.

    He’d been a class athlete but never bragged about his achievements, regarding them in some ways as a bit puzzling. I remember him saying about his third place in the Offa’s Dyke 15 that he’d found it so easy he’d wished he’d gone out harder at the start as he’d felt he could easily have won. From some this would sound like boasting but from him, it wasn’t, just a straightforward reflection on how he’d run. He found it funny to look back on the time he was regularly winning prizes in open races and a friend had suggested they could earn a living from running. A couple of pairs of socks and a clock each week isn’t going to pay the mortgage he had retorted.

    I was sorry when he lost interest in X-C and turned more to tri. Before then I used to love turning up and seeing him before the start when he would regale me with his latest training regime which seemed to change radically from one fixture to the next, an indication I suppose of how even as a vet he took competition seriously and thought hard about his running.

    Now he’s gone I feel very upset and wish I’d taken the trouble to see more of him. There are not many of his calibre.

    I’m sure, as someone who knew him better and for longer than me, his loss has hit you hard. A sad day indeed.

  14. So sorry to hear that news i have been off the running scene for a long time now, but i always liked to race against Mick he was a true inspiration to so many people and he will be sadly missed as such a talented athlete R.I.P Mick my thoughts are with his family!

  15. I’m extremely sad to hear of Mick’s death. I knew him both through running and having worked for him at Leominser Leisure Centre an eternity ago. I used to call him a ‘git’ as he’d regularly take great pleasure in cruising past me in the early stages of races – where i’d vainly gone off to quick. He absolutely loved that, and our verbal sparring would continue when back at work the next week.

    What a lovely, lovely man he was. I know that his family will be extremely proud of him,

  16. Only just heard this very sad news. Mick was a great fell runner, friend and true gentleman. My heartfelt condolences to his family. He will be missed by all who knew him but we all have fond memories of him.

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