PC John Wiggans - Main Sporting Field – Field Athletics
John joined the Lancashire Constabulary in June 2000 and has worked as a uniformed response and community beat officer undergoing 24/7 shifts. He is currently an armed response officer working in Central Division.
John, now age 35, has competed in track and field athletics consistently for the past 20 years in mainly the triple, high and long jumping events. He has also competed in some track competitions, in particular relay events. His specialism is in the triple jump discipline that he has particularly excelled in over the years.
He is currently a member of Preston Harriers but has previously competed for Blackburn Harriers and Blackpool and Fylde AC.
Earlier Performances
He started competing at the age of 15 years in triple jump events when he was 4th in the English Schools national championships.
By his late teens he was ranked 9th in the UK in the under 20’s. He won the Scottish Open Championships twice, was 7th in the AAA’s championships and won the North of England Championships.
His personal best performances are:
Triple Jump – 14.44 metres
Long Jump – 6.75 metres
High Jump – 1.88 metres
Police Sport UK
Since joining the Lancashire Police in 2000, has taken part in the National Police Sport UK Championships with the following outstanding results:
2001 – Birmingham, West Midlands
Triple Jump - Gold
High Jump - Silver
Long Jump - Bronze
2002 – Exeter, Devon & Cornwall
High Jump - Gold
Long Jump - Silver
Triple Jump - Silver
Relay - Bronze
2003 – Edinburgh, Lothian & Borders
Triple Jump - Gold
High Jump - Gold
Long Jump - Silver
2004 – Colchester, Essex
Long Jump - Gold
Triple Jump - Silver
2005 – Derby, Derbyshire
Triple Jump - Silver
Long Jump - Bronze
High Jump - Bronze
2006 – Newport, Gwent:
Triple Jump - Silver
Long Jump - Silver
High Jump - Silver
This brings a total of 5 Gold, 9 Silver and 4 Bronze medals over the last 6 years at national level. He is also the only person in Police Sport UK to have ever to have won the gold medal in all three jumping events.
British Police Challenge Events
During his time in the force John has also represented the British Police on numerous occasions competing against Loughborough students, the RAF and other similar national teams.
USPE European International Event
In 2002, John was selected to compete for the British Police in Poland in the European Championships finishing 6th in the Triple Jump.
World Police & Fire Games
In 2003, John travelled to Barcelona to take part in the World Police and Fire Games finishing 3rd with a bronze medal in the Triple Jump.
Conclusion
Many of John’s more recent outstanding performances have been achieved while working around a full shift system undergoing front line response duties when his ability to train well have often proved difficult.
He has attended all of the above Police Sport UK events alongside other athletes from the force. Between him competing in each of the three disciplines John always finds time to break off and encourage his other fellow athletes in their events giving them plenty of support and advice where needed.
John is now looking ahead to compete on home turf at Blackpool Stadium in July where he will compete in the 2007 Police Sport UK national championships that Lancashire Constabulary are hosting.
John is an outstanding athlete and a true sportsman and is undoubtedly a well chosen recipient of the 2006 ‘Sports Personality Award’.
Presentation
The award was presented by the Chief Constable Mr Steve Finnigan at a formal ceremony at Lancashire Police Headquarters on Friday 11 May 2007.
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John, now age 35, has competed in track and field athletics consistently for the past 20 years in mainly the triple, high and long jumping events. He has also competed in some track competitions, in particular relay events. His specialism is in the triple jump discipline that he has particularly excelled in over the years.
