Staffordshire student celebrates phenomenal international sporting success

Midland school praised by parents of world number 1 teen kickboxer

Kickboxer Jack Buckley, a Year 11 pupil at The Hart School in Rugeley, has achieved amazing success ranking as WAKO’s world number 1, in two categories, and winning a place on GB’s kickboxing team.

But it’s not only down to his hard work and dedication, but also the support of his high school.

As The Hart School broke up for summer the teenager’s parents sent a touching message to principal Chris Keen, the leadership team and Jack’s class teachers.

Amazing support

Angie and Sean Buckley said: “We know Jack likes to keep all this low key, but he’s had an amazing year that’s helped him to secure his WAKO World Ranking Position of number 1 in two categories.

“As parents we are obviously very proud of him and his achievements, but we wish to take this opportunity to thank all at the school for the amazing support that you have given Jack, including allowing him to take time out for kickboxing competitions, especially during this last year.”

Jack, who also finds time to coach younger children kickboxing, is now spending his summer holiday training at home with GB team ahead of his next challenge, the European Championships in August in Budapest.

A great example

Mr Keen said: “We’re delighted that Jack’s made such an impact on the international sporting stage in the field of kickboxing and we’ll watch with excitement as his career with team GB progresses and we wish him continued future success.

“He is a great example of how discipline, determination and dedication pays off, whether that be in the field of academia, creativity or sportsmanship.
“We’re incredibly proud to support and inspire all our pupils to work hard to achieve their life goals, in and out of the classroom, and to grow into successful, inspiring young men and women.”

Jack isn’t the only accomplished kickboxing pupil at The Hart School.

More sporting success from Hart pupils

Year 9 teen Ellie Harvey, 13, was recently crowned as a world champion kickboxer, with hopes now high that she will compete in the 2024 Olympics; and Year 7 student Lucy Graham, 11, is a national kumite karate champ and has her sight set on lifting the global title for her age next year.

And Lucy’s fellow Year 7 pupil Harry McAulay, aged 12, already has a national bronze medal under his kumite belt and his next goal is to bring home a world title in 2019.

Jack’s current 2019 medal tally includes: Hungarian Kickboxing World Cup, May, gold and bronze; Austrian Classics, Innsbruck, April; Yokoso Dutch Open, Amsterdam, March, gold and silver; Irish Open, Dublin, March, gold and silver; and Athens Challenge, Greece, January, gold and bronze.

And in October 2018 he also lifted two golds, a silver and bronze medal at Flanders International Kickboxing Cup, Belgium, and in September bronze at the Wako World Championships in Venice.