Scholarship Recipient Pledges to Live up to the Tony Jackson Mantra
Of all the many iconic things, moments and highlights at Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand, one of the most
sought after and talked about is the Tony Jackson Scholarship.
Named in memory and in honour of one of the pioneers of the sport and great characters of IRONMAN New Zealand, Tony
Jackson was a 28-time finisher at IRONMAN New Zealand and a Hall of Famer. Renowned for his passion to encourage, help,
inspire and motivate athletes to achieve their IRONMAN goals irrespective of their athletic ability, personal
challenges, background, age or gender.
When Tony passed away in 2013, just a week after IRONMAN New Zealand, it was ensured that his legacy would live on in
the event he loved, with the Tony Jackson Scholarship awarded each year to a worthy candidate, someone who fits the Tony
Jackson philosophy of ‘nothing is impossible to the willing mind.’
Jason Young is that chosen athlete this year, returning for his second tilt at IRONMAN, Jason weighed in at 180kg in
2014 when he decided to do something to change his life, and it was to IRONMAN he would turn and like so many before
him, he has very much caught the bug.
“Ironman was such a journey and one I would love to repeat, because even though I finished and got my medal, 16 hours
didn’t sit well with me, I know I should be grateful that I finished, it’s just the expectation I put on myself. I had
done two half IRONMAN events leading into the event and both of them were in the six-hour range, so I was hoping for a
14-hour finish.
“It was a testing day though, and I found out a few things about myself when I went into a few dark places - and I’m not
talking about the dimly lit streets at the back of the course! So when I did eventually reach that wonderful red carpet
that is the finishing chute and hear the MAGIC words ‘YOU ARE AN IRONMAN’ and I crossed the line….I hugged my beautiful
wife and she looked in my eyes and said without hesitation…. you’re doing that again!”
IRONMAN is a big commitment however, and Jason was encouraged to apply for the Tony Jackson Scholarship, hoping that he
too now can inspire others through his own journey.
“The strain on the whanau is something I would love to minimise, it means the world to me and my family to have my entry
covered. To have the support of the Tony Jackson Scholarship, it is just amazing and will make all the difference to me
and my whanau.
“One of my highlights for undertaking this journey is influencing my friends and family towards a lifestyle where
physical fitness is a major component. I am rapt my wife has entered her first event and will be lining up at Ironmaori
¼ in November. Also, me and a bunch of mates will be lining up for this year’s Taupo Cycle challenge.”
An Estimator at Dysart Holdings in Auckland, Young knows his limits but still he has not yet found his boundaries, and
thanks to the Tony Jackson Scholarship and the mantra passed on through his legacy, Jason can see just how far he can
go, all the while inspiring others to do something similar in their lives.
“I know I’ll never push the likes of my hero Cameron Brown, but I don’t need too, I want to show that this is a sport
accessible to everyone, it’s not just for the whippets but us ex-front rowers can line up and achieve things we never
thought imaginable. At the end of the day, it is like Tony said….. ‘Nothing is impossible…to the willing mind’.”
Tony’s widow Verna Cook-Jackson is involved in the selection process and has no doubt Tony would approve of Jason as the
recipient for 2018.
“Jason did not have a great day this year, indeed, he had to eat humble pie for most of the second eight hours of the
event. I think it must have been the humble pie that had him throwing up on the bike ride! He had expected to 'cream'
the bike and then run most of the marathon. He walked most of the marathon. By his own admission he went into a dark
place. He did finish, be it somewhat reverentially.
“But throughout his weight loss and training he did manage to inspire, merely by his personal enthusiasm and
self-deprecating humour many others who would have given him no chance of getting to the start line, let alone the
finish line. I had seen from afar how he had influenced his whanau and family with his encouragement for them to relook
at their lifestyles and to make changes to their own health and fitness levels. I know it has done that to many, not
just in triathlon but with teenagers in rugby league - he is influential in their goal setting and sport. He was
inspiration to them when they saw the changes he was making to his life and health.
“Had Tony been alive, he would have nudged Jason and thrown down a soft gauntlet and offered to take him under his wing
and help him do that whilst at the same time help him to continue influencing and inspiring so many others. Tony would
have liked that Jason is this year's recipient.”
Triathlon is not the only place where Jason is setting a fine example. He is an active member of the community and as
Janine Tito, Associate Principal at Te Kopuru School said in support of Jason’s application, he inspires those around
him.
“The thing I most admire about Jason, is his selflessness and ability to encourage and inspire others (including
myself). Jason's’ sporting background of recent times has been dedicated to coaching youth in League and Tag Football
where many of the young men Jason has worked with are achieving their goals of playing Premier League both here in New
Zealand and Australia.”
Jason’s journey to March 3, 2018 and Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand in Taupo just got a little easier, thanks
to the Tony Jackson Scholarship.
ENDS