Beach vaults growing in the UK

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var ... _sands.php

Sunbathers go up the pole to keep-fit on sands
By Joanna Davis
Comment

POLE TO POLE: BBC presenter Mike Bushell tries out his pole-vaulting technique

BEACHGOERS traded towels for a pole vault mat when a novel keep-fit initiative tempted them off Weymouth's sands.

Game sunbathers turned their hand to a new craze doing the rounds at Dorset beaches - portable pole-vaulting.

Young and old were invited to take a running jump and attempt to clear the vault.

The action was caught on camera as BBC journalist Mike Bushell picked up a pole for a News 24 report.

Ahead of his attempt he said: "I'm nervous about eating a lot of Weymouth sand and I think I have a slight disadvantage because of my height.

"But I'm flexible so that will help, but I'm quite scared of snapping the pole."

Trudi Carter, athletics development officer for Dorset, said the aim of the afternoon was to raise awareness about the sport.

She added: "We started off doing taster days with the pole vault in schools and are now thinking about taking it to young offender institutions.

"It's the only portable pole vault set in the country and has been to three beaches so far.

"We've had a number of people trying it who are as young as six and seven up to 70-year-olds.

"At first people are a bit worried about it but after their first jump they hate having the pole taken away."

Portable pole vaulting is supported by the Active Dorset County Sports Partnership, England Athletics South West region and the Dorset County Athletics Association.

The Weymouth beach pole-vaulting sessions will be screened on BBC Breakfast on BBC1 on Saturday between 6am and 10am.

[golfdane]

That inflatable landing pad looks really cool. We could use one of those for our indoor facilities, which is situated in an arena that is shared with indoor football, badminton, handball, volleyball, basketball and track cycling.
Still, it would probably be a matter of seconds before someone spiked it.....