Great grandson of Sir Tom Finney to represent GB in Australia 2024

By Preston College

19 Oct 2023

P1199831 smaller.jpg.jpg

After only a year of racing and competing in a brand-new sport, Preston College’s own student manager Jake, great-grandson to Preston legend Sir Tom Finney, has been selected to represent The Great Britain Age Group Team in the Standard Distance Duathlon World Championships, held in Australia, 2024!

Having made an early breakthrough in football, and playing football for academies such as Blackpool, Bolton and Fleetwood, whilst also representing Lancashire Schools and FA, an early injury from a broken ankle when he was 17 happened again during match two years ago, leaving Jake to make the difficult decision to move away from football and step out of his comfort zone and into something completely different.

Fast forward two years and Jake has not only joined Preston College as a student manager, but in that time he has found a new love for running. Later that year Jake competed in his very first triathlon and has since competed in five triathlons, two duathlons and long-distance running events.

Jake says: “From having no idea what to expect on my first race two years ago, where I even had to borrow my uncle’s 10 year old cycling shoes and my dad’s rusty bike, I am thrilled to say that I have successfully managed to qualify for this duathlon after competing in a competitive race in this June.

“It was crazy, I was racing against current and aspiring Great British athletes, however I was lucky enough to place in the top four of the event, meaning I have secured a qualifying spot and a chance to represent my country in Australia in 2024. This is by far my greatest achievement, and something which myself and my family are extremely proud of. I have always dreamt of representing my country at a sporting level and whilst this was not possible during my footballing days, I’ve been given an opportunity to do so through duathlon.”

Unfortunately, there is no funding from the government body unless you are an elite athlete, which means that the whole trip has to be funded directly through the athlete or with the help and support of sponsorships, funds and grants.

If you’d like to support Jake through a grant or donation to help him make his dream of representing Team GB a reality, please visit his GoFundMe page.

He adds: “I hope that with my story, I can inspire other young athletes to achieve their dreams and to step out of their comfort zone into a brand-new sport such as triathlon or duathlon. Thank you very much for your time and thanks for reading about my journey so far.”

Latest news

1

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

2

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

3

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

4

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

5

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Business Breakfast Networking Event
business workshop photo.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

Business Breakfast Networking Event

Media Factory, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:30

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin