Jon rowed for Cambridge Lightweights in 1977 and was Captain of Jesus College Boat Club the following year. He won National Colours for Zimbabwe, steering the IV which toured Europe in 1989, winning Gold in the UK National Championships. In the 1990s he coached southern African crews to the World Championships.

In 2000 Jon returned to work in Cambridge where he works for the UN, spending his spare time coaching town club crews, Jesus College and the Lightweight Squad.