Shropshire Magazine

Jack accepts his award at the OCS Young Sports Persons Awards from the BBC’s Clare Balding and veteran Olympic athlete Ron Jones.

Shirley Tart sees a combination of courage, commitment and capability in one extraordinary teenager

I think I have just met a fantastic future success story. No, scrub that. Jack Roughan, runner extraordinaire, is already an incredible winner.

He is 16 and began running less than two years ago. His first competitive race was in the summer of 2008. Yet just 18 short and amazing months on, as in all the best Boy’s Own adventure stories, Jack is a serious Olympic-standard contender. 

For the 2016 sporting extravaganza he is marked down in the country’s top, hand-picked 16, the cream of the crop. But the talented athlete from Hanwood near Shrewsbury is also, fingers crossed, aiming to be out front and winning in London when we stage our own 2012 Games.

Not only does he have these wish lists, though, he also has the talent and the capacity to put in the incredibly hard work needed to reach for the stars.

We might as well throw in here the fact that Jack is a fine artist – as witnessed with a peep at his bedroom walls at home – a super-swimmer (at national level and a part-qualified lifeguard), a green belt in karate, a music lover, and he’s also keen on his unicycle, which he taught himself to ride. 

By now, anyone meeting him will have pretty well forgotten that Jack Roughan is partially sighted, and boards at a specialist school for blind and partially sighted children in Worcester.

But actually, that is not the most incredible thing about this young man.

What grabs you is his infectious grin, and the enthusiasm for everything he does and all the things he might yet try. Coupled with a teenager’s labelling of what’s ‘cool’ and what’s not, the way he gets hold of life and lives it is just brilliant. That cheerful confidence powers him through a tough training regime but also has him still insisting on time for schoolwork, hobbies, interests and fun.

Dizzy

Jack took three medals at the 2009 IBSA World Championships in Colorado.

Far from his head being turned by the dizzy speed of athletic success, Jack says: “I am planning to finish college, I’m doing my A-levels and plan to do an arts degree at uni.” As well rounded a lad as you’ll find.

Just before Christmas, the former Shrewsbury Priory School pupil beat off formidable competition to win the Disabled Athlete’s award in the national One Complete Solution Young Sports Person Awards, in partnership with SportsAid. There was a handy £2,000 thrown in as well, but even that could hardly match the satisfaction of his fantastic achievement on the running tracks.

And he could hardly have a better back-up team. Apart from dad Mike and mum Rosemary, Jack is one of seven children (he slots in at number five) so can rely on plenty of family support. Company director Mike not only encourages his son but knows his programme off by heart, is often the transport and almost lives every step, each victory and the odd disappointment, with the teenager. On the day I met them both, Mike was preparing to take Jack back to school in Worcester from where the young athlete pursues his top-line training.

It’s amazing to think that less than two years ago, running was no more on his agenda than it is for most people.

It was an encouraging teacher who first thought he might at least enjoy the running track. And in June 2008, Jack began what has already become an unbelievable journey with a Commercial Point grand prix run which saw him achieve a close second to Ben Rushgrove. To illustrate just how good that was, Ben who has cerebral palsy, went on to win a Silver Medal at the Paralympic Games in Beijing. No wonder everybody began to realise that young Jack Roughan had the potential to be very good indeed.

He called for help from former top athlete Lincoln Asquith who has been guide runner – ‘eyes on the track’ – for disabled stars such as partially sighted Libby Clegg, another Beijing Paralympics Silver medallist. Lincoln is now Jack’s coach.

All set for track glory then? Well I’ll bet anybody’s money that Jack Roughan is indeed heading swiftly in that direction. 

After that first major run, his racing continued with talent days and an invitation to Loughborough University for evaluation. While he was shortlisted for their Development Programme, Jack wasn’t selected but even that spurred him on. He says: “I had worked very hard and was really disappointed. I decided that I wouldn’t give up, but would show people how good I could be.”

Apart from going on to prove just that, Jack went to the United States last summer to take part in his first major, the International Blind Sports Federation championships at Colorado Springs, where he competed in three events. 

And guess what? That’s right, he came home with three medals: the 100-metre Silver, the 200-metre Bronze and long jump Bronze.

Thrilled

Not only was he thrilled with the chance to represent Great Britain internationally and compete against world-class Paralympians, but he also made many new friends from across the globe.

Proud dad Mike with Jack and a selection of the keen teenage artist’s work.

Mind you, Jack must be one of the easiest, laid-back chaps to get friendly with. He may dream of the glittering prize, but he still has a healthy life balance.

Despite great support, competing at this level also costs – Mike reckons around £3,500 this year – with bills of at least £5,000 a year ahead of them.

Since the American experience, Jack has competed in many events, placed in most. In the SportsAid One to Watch award, he was the only athlete in the disability section to make the final 10. 

He says: “I am really pleased to have also been selected by SportsAid as one of their 16 for 2016. It’s a great honour to be seen as having potential at Paralympic level.”

Watch this Olympic-size space – Jack Roughan is likely to race through it soon!

• If you would like to think about helping sponsor Shropshire’s amazing young athlete, talk to Mike on 07796 141030.