A Thanksgiving Service will be held in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Bangor on Monday 5th August 2024 at 1.00pm followed by a private family cremation at Roselawn Crematorium, Belfast.
Jack (right) with Ards CC president Bobby Magreechan at the 2014 Christmas 10. Photo – David McVeigh.
The club was saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Watson earlier today.
Jack made a huge contribution to cycling in Ireland and beyond, and was a great friend to Ards Cycling Club over many decades. He never lost his enthusiasm for the sport, and was still officiating at events until well into his 80s, including our own Tour of Ards and Town Centre Races this year.
Jack (second from right) encouraging our newest time keeper and judge at the finish of this year’s Tour of Ards
Jack was awarded an MBE in 2017 in recognition of his work for cycling. This was hugely deserved – check out this story on Stickbottle.com for a list of some of Jack’s achievements.
Although Jack was a member of Bangor Clubs for most of his cycling career, he always supported and encouraged our club and its members. Here are a few examples…
When Ards CC was building up it’s youth section in the late 1970s, Jack’s sons Alan and Paul were also starting out in cycle racing. Jack helped to develop the underage cycling scene in Northern Ireland. This classic picture from the archives was taken at the English Schools Cycling Association championships in 1980. Jack (third down on the left in the dark glasses) was an official with the Northern Ireland team, which included two riders from Newtownards – Anthony Mitchell and Alastair Martin.
Jack helped to establish Mountain Bike racing in Ireland in the early 1990s. He wrote the rule book, and also organised the first MTB commissaires course in Northern Ireland (where 4 Ards CC members qualified). He is seen here judging at an Ards CC MTB race in Castle Park in 1990 (second from left).
Jack commissaired at many Ards CC promotions over the years, including the Tour of Ards, the Ards Town Centre races, and the Ards 3 day. He always acted professionally, and often made constructive suggestions for how we could make our events even better. He’s seen here commissairing at the 1991 Irish Hill Climb Championships, which the club promoted on Carrowreagh Road.
Jack always liked to keep up with the latest news and gossip in the cycling world. Here he is at the 2017 Christmas 10 (Photo – Dany Blondeel).
Irish cycling, and Ards Cycling Club in particular, owe a huge debt of thanks to Jack Watson for all his help and encouragement over the years. His legacy will live on, and is hugely appreciated.
We extend our sympathy to Jack’s wife Rea, his sons Alan and Paul and the wider family circle.