Olympian Field Events

------ 52 THE OLYMPIAN FIELD EVENTS. in the air, and the "body control" plays a most important part in jumping. One thing which has militated most seriously against our British high jumpers i the non-use of the sand– pit in this country, and without which no jumper an ever feel safe enough about landing to gi' e his whole attention to clearing the bar in good style. The sand– pit has been in use in America almo t since competition jumping first started. It is also used at Oxford and Cambridge, and one has re ently b en provided at the London Athletic lub's ground at tamford Bridge, o that there would seem to be a reasonable hope that all clubs promoting high jumps, or numbering high jump r among their members, will make use of this really most necessary pit in future. In my pinion, it is to the non-u e of the pit that the shortne s four high jump rs ' athletic careers is directly tra eable. The need of the and-pit cannot be too strongly emphasised. In the fir t plac , the novi , jumping with the knowledge that no matter how awkwardly he jumps he will not hurt him elf, ' ill far more inclin d to go " all ut" tl an will the man wb sa . to hi m If before each attempt: " N w, if I make a muck of this I may tn]Ure mys If riou ly." Th finished jumper who clears his 6ft. is saved he hock to the system which is impart d 1 y landing on hard turf after a resp tabl jump· and th legs ar saved ' h n land– ing in sand, to a v ry appr iabl xt nt. As to the outfit f r the running high jump, t\\O standard , bored and grad11ated in in hes and half– in h s, should be provid d, t geth r with a supply of bars, r in. square and roft. to 12ft. long. The tandards should be set up ome roft. t I Ift. apart, imm dial ly at the edge of the sand-pit. Th re are many tyles in high jumping, but all may b las d under two main h adings- the one in whi h the bar is approached from th id , and th other in which the run i taken dir ctly at the bar from the front.