Athletics (British Sports Library)

140 ATHLETICS wide, well-spiked heels. The shoes should also be fitted with ankle-straps. In England most field events contests take place upon grass, and therefore the man who can afford them should possess three pairs of shoes-those with long spikes for soft, wet grass, those with medium length spikes for normal turf, and those with short spikes for hard, sun-dried turf or for use on good cinders. Upon cinders, however, it may sometimes be necessary to use the medium length spikes. There is only one sort of gear for the field events man to use, and that is the very best obtainable. The pole vaulter, for example, should never allow himself to be persuaded to vault with anything but a female-bamboo · vaulting pole of ~uitable length, whipped about with medical adhesive strapping to give him hand-hold. The use of an ash or hickory pole is suicidal. In the first place, such a pole is liable to snap transversely and impale the wretched athlete; secondly, its very weight will prevent him from producing his proper form. Discus throwers should see to it that they get a discus according to Olympic specification ; many British firms are still supplying the bad, out-of– date disci which were in use at the London Olympiad of 1908, but which have long since been condemned by the authorities. The same applies to javelins. Some firms will fob you off with whippy, ash-shafted