One of Irish cycling's longest serving and most dedicated members, Jack Watson, has been honoured by the Queen in her New Year's honours list. He now has a date at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, where the awards are presented to the recipients by members of the British royal family (Photo: Marian Lamb)
Irish cycling's Jack Watson awarded MBE by Queen
Well known Irish cycling figure Jack Watson has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list.
Watson has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to cycling.
His name was on a 1,123-strong list of recipients – including show business figures, leading sports stars and community leaders – who were bestowed with honours by the UK’s Queen Elizabeth.
Jack was one of only three people awarded an honour for services to cycling.
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Alan Davis, a coach at Maindy Flyers, Cardiff and Newport, also receives an honour. He was recognised for his services to youth cycling and diversity inclusion in South Wales.
And round-the-world cycling adventurer Mark Beaumont is also in the New Year’s list.
Jack Watson’s honour comes in the same year he was recognised by the UEC – European cycling’s governing body. He received a UEC Merit Award at the UEC congress in March.
Jack was born into a cycling family; his father was a well-respected cycling administrator for over 50 years.
Jack raced from 1954 until 1968; three years of which for Coalville Wheelers in Leicestershire.
It was during that period, way back in 1958, that he became involved in cycling administration. And his contribution has been ceaseless since then.
He is 30 years in his position as Cycling Ireland registrar. In that role he is responsible for the registration and licensing of members.
But that position is but one in a very long line of posts he has held in cycling; often putting in unglamorous work to keep Irish and international cycling on the road.
Other posts he has held include:
- Chairman Northern Ireland Cycling Federation
- Chairman Ulster Cycling Federation
- Chairman Irish Cycling Tripartite Committee
- President Federation of Irish Cyclists (original name of Cycling Ireland)
- Secretary Irish Cycling Tripartite Committee
- Delegate N.I. Commonwealth Games council on behalf of NICF
- Delegate Irish Olympic Council on behalf of Cycling Ireland
- Delegate European Cycling Union (UEC) on behalf of cycling Ireland
- Delegate International Cycling Union (UCI). One of 14 delegates representing the European Cycling Union
- Currently Honorary Secretary Cycling Ireland since 1995 - re-elected every two years by nomination and vote of members
- Currently Honorary Vice President Cycling Ireland since 1995
- Technical Consultant Tour of Almaty (KAZ)
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Locally, Jack was founder chairman of Toyota North Down Cycling Club. Furthermore, he held the position of treasurer, race secretary and committee member within the club.
In recent years he has completely re-written the Technical And Administrative Regulations for Cycling Ireland.
He ensures these are updated to international standards every year and all changes proposed and adopted by the Board during the year.
Jack travelled extensively with various Northern Ireland and Irish teams. He did so in the 70s and 80s as either manager or mechanic.
His excursions included numerous World Championships and the 1984 Olympic Games.
Since qualifying as an International Commissaire in Colorado Springs in 1986 Jack has officiated in many countries throughout the world.
He has also acted as a Commissaire at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
And he also filled that role at the 1998 Junior World Track Championships in Cuba, the 2000 Senior World road Championships in France and over Easter 2004 at the World Cup Track Meeting in Manchester.
Jack had to retire in 2004 as a UCI appointed commissaire at international events. He did so as commissaires are no longer appointed to international events after they turned 65 years.
He is currently a doping control officer for UK Sport and Sport Ireland.
Jack was involved with the Northern Ireland Sports Council in the mid 80’s in setting an anti doping policy for all sports in the province.
In addition, he has served on numerous hearings in Ireland relating to athletes who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
At the invitation of the Irish Sports Council has made presentations to other organizations on the application of anti-doping rules in the event of a positive result.
In 2003 Jack’s commitment to cycling both nationally and internationally was recognised by the UCI.
He was presented with the UCI’s gold merit Award at the UCI Congress in Hamilton, Canada.
Ten years later Cycling Ireland initiated a Hall of Fame in recognition of those who had played a major part in shaping Irish cycling. Jack was one of the 20 initial persons inducted.
All of us at stickybottle would like to extend out heartiest congratulations to Jack, whose son Paul is following in his footsteps as a noted international commissaire.
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