Athletics (British Sports Library)

THE POLE VAULT 213 little chap of 9 years of age who clears his 5 feet 3 inches in excellent style, mainly because he was taught how to vault almost as soon as he could run. The event is competed for at all Championship meetings and has now been included in the Public Schools Sports programme. The rules governing competition provide that : The uprights shall be at least 12 feet apart and may be moved, at the request of a competitor, but not more than 2 feet in any direction ; if they are moved the judges must re-measure the height of the bar. The bar should be triangular in shape, each side measuring 1 1 3 6 inches.' The pegs to support the bar should be round and smooth, i inch in diameter, and must not project more than 3 inches from the face of the uprights. A competitor is allowed to dig a hole for the reception of the point of the pole, but it is better to have a slide-way properly constructed~ This should be made of 2-inch planking (see Sketches 1, 2, and 3}. Note the narrow end of the slide-way is placed next the sand-pit, so that the pole point enters the wide end. As soon as a competitor has left the ground for the purpose of making a jump, it is counted as a trial. If he runs without jumping, it is not counted as a jump, but three such runs are reckoned as one trial.