John Jackson

When he left school in Newcastle-under-Lyme, John Jackson was an established steeplechaser. After going to Liverpool University in 1960 to study to become a research chemist, however, he turned to cross-country and track racing and became captain of the university athletics team. He won the university cross-country title six times. Jackson won the British Universities one mile title in both 1964 and 1965 and was the Midlands champion in the second of those years. Also in 1964, he was runner-up in the Staffordshire Cross-Country Championships, and led Liverpool to victory in the Universities National Championships.

Reverting to the steeplechase, Jackson was second to Gareth Bryan-Jones in the 1967 AAAs, and at that year’s World Student Games (Summer Universiade) in Tokyo won the steeplechase silver and 5,000 metres bronze medals. Jackson also won the 1967 Inter-Counties steeplechase title, which he retained in 1968 when he won his only senior AAA title. He also went to the Mexico Olympics but was eliminated in his first-round heat. Jackson enjoyed his third and final AAA podium in 1969. After graduating, Jackson worked in the research laboratories at the internationally known Pilkington Glass Company at Lathom, near Wigan.

Personal Best: 3000S – 8:33.0 (1969).