Jumping up and down in the one spot waiting for my number to be called in the high jump competition to indicate that it was my turn to attempt the next height level. This was the scene at Olympic Park one day in October around 1958.
It was my turn at the next height. The scene was set at the Open Schoolboy’s Athletic competition. I needed to clear this height to remain in the competition.
The best height I had cleared so far this season was five feet five inches in the old measurement and the world record stood at six foot five. It was only 10 inches below the world record, which may seem an in creditable figure. But high jump records were very low compared to other disciplines. At the most recent Olympic Games the title was held by E. J. Winter, representing Australia on the world stage. The current record was recorded at Helsinki Finland.
Back to concentrating on the job at hand. Here I am staring at the cross bar which was at about eye level. Mentally, I thought all I needed to do was lift.
I thought on the day my efforts would be rewarded. The conditions I had been training under were sub-standard for high jump due to the rough surface, the stony hard run up to be negotiated and a wind factor almost at the point of billowing on most practice days.
Although I had never met the Olympic champion E J Winter and could not personally gain or claim credit from his inspiration, there were several other world class performers at these athletic meetings. Still waiting at my designated jump start position and keeping my eye on the High Jump Steward for direction, I ran the names of these outstanding competitors through my memory bank: Chilla Porter, Queensland & Australian champion; Colin Ridgway, Victorian Champion who lived in Preston; John Vernon, brother of Katie Vernon, Victorian sheep farmers living at Lismore, Victoria. All these people could jump over six feet, whereas I could only clear the bar at five feet five inches.
Olympic rules stipulate that a competitor can attempt to clear the cross bar on three attempts. Having failed to jump over the bar on the third attempt, this competitor will be eliminated and so the competition continues until all competitors are eliminated. Here I am still waiting for the High Jump Steward to indicate I could proceed. The tension is mounting.
The Steward has given me the nod that all is clear to make my first attempt
Bingo! I have cleared the first jump
All the other competitors have been though by now and it is back to my turn again
Unfortunately this time, my first, second & third attempts are unsuccessful and that is the end of the competition for me. Failure. No new records for me, not even a second placing.
However E. J. Winter’s brother approached me, offering to take me on as a Pole Vaulter. I competed at Pole Vaulting until I moved to the country to work.
Godfrey Marple
April 2017
It was my turn at the next height. The scene was set at the Open Schoolboy’s Athletic competition. I needed to clear this height to remain in the competition.
The best height I had cleared so far this season was five feet five inches in the old measurement and the world record stood at six foot five. It was only 10 inches below the world record, which may seem an in creditable figure. But high jump records were very low compared to other disciplines. At the most recent Olympic Games the title was held by E. J. Winter, representing Australia on the world stage. The current record was recorded at Helsinki Finland.
Back to concentrating on the job at hand. Here I am staring at the cross bar which was at about eye level. Mentally, I thought all I needed to do was lift.
I thought on the day my efforts would be rewarded. The conditions I had been training under were sub-standard for high jump due to the rough surface, the stony hard run up to be negotiated and a wind factor almost at the point of billowing on most practice days.
Although I had never met the Olympic champion E J Winter and could not personally gain or claim credit from his inspiration, there were several other world class performers at these athletic meetings. Still waiting at my designated jump start position and keeping my eye on the High Jump Steward for direction, I ran the names of these outstanding competitors through my memory bank: Chilla Porter, Queensland & Australian champion; Colin Ridgway, Victorian Champion who lived in Preston; John Vernon, brother of Katie Vernon, Victorian sheep farmers living at Lismore, Victoria. All these people could jump over six feet, whereas I could only clear the bar at five feet five inches.
Olympic rules stipulate that a competitor can attempt to clear the cross bar on three attempts. Having failed to jump over the bar on the third attempt, this competitor will be eliminated and so the competition continues until all competitors are eliminated. Here I am still waiting for the High Jump Steward to indicate I could proceed. The tension is mounting.
The Steward has given me the nod that all is clear to make my first attempt
Bingo! I have cleared the first jump
All the other competitors have been though by now and it is back to my turn again
Unfortunately this time, my first, second & third attempts are unsuccessful and that is the end of the competition for me. Failure. No new records for me, not even a second placing.
However E. J. Winter’s brother approached me, offering to take me on as a Pole Vaulter. I competed at Pole Vaulting until I moved to the country to work.
Godfrey Marple
April 2017
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