Pole vaulters fear injury on new Q.E.II greyhound rail

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 20

Pole vaulters fear injury on new Q.E.II greyhound rail

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ROD DEW

Canterbury track and field coaches fear that the four world-ranked pole vaulters entered for the Pan Am-South Pacific Television international meeting on January 19 will refuse to compete when they realise the danger presented by the new. fixed $25,000 greyhound racing rail erected at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

"A permanent metal rail now runs right alongside the pole vault run-up. I don’t think any international pole vaulter will come out to Queen Elizabeth Park and risk his neck by competing with that there,” the vicepresident of the Canterbury Coaches’ Association, Mr Bob Grieve, said. "Nowhere else in the world would pole vaulters be asked to take this sort of risk.” he said. The coaches' association was very worried and could see no way of adequately covering the rail to make it safe. “We can see some athlete becoming seriously injured. Things were bad enough before with the old rail, but that could be removed. This one is fixed.” Queen Elizabeth Park was built for athletics, and yet the dogs were taking more and more. Two cuts had been made to the 100 m runoff at the end of the main straight, and now a permanent rail had been concreted right round the track. The Christchurch City Council had to decide what the park was —a dog track or an athletics venue, he said. Many officials, coaches, and athletes are concerned, not just at the danger faced by pole vaulters, but at the risk of serious leg injuries to any unwary athlete i unit ng into the rail. The Canterbury Athletic Centre is worried, too.

Details of the proposal by the Christchurch Greyhound .Racing Club to erect a fixed? | rail were received by centre • officials just four days before the Christchurch City Council granted its approval. Mr D. McKenzie, the president of the centre, said they I were under pressure to i agree. “In consideration of the greyhound club’s problems, the emergency com■mittee agreed to the concept 'of a 250 mm (lOin) high fixed rail.” he said. “We were allowed no time to consult our full committee. and that was unfair [to the centre. The agreement [made was subject to a number of conditions," Mr Mackenzie said. One condition was that I the rail should be moved out | to 2.4 m clear of the centre | line of the pole vault runiup. However, the rail, which i'is now installed, is actually I only 2.1 m from the centre [line, and the metal rail supi ports encroach even further. ! Three removable sections [W’ere requested, one at each lend of the track for access for marathon runners and [wheeled vehicles, and a third [for the removal of heavy .gear to the store. The council agreed to the first two, but rejected the .third. Instead, alternative jstorage space was offered in 'another part of the stadium. “The visual presentation [ot the park is a matter for the council to consider, but

as a regular user we are ob-i viously concerned,” Mr I Mackenzie said. “The rail is not finished yet, so it is probably unfair to comment. But I don’t think anyone Iwas impressed with the previous one.” I Nevertheless, the main [objection to the rail is the [danger it presents to pole vaulters. There is a practice pole vault run-up behind the shot circle and high jump apron which is unaffected Iby the rail. But this can [only be used when there is [no high jump in progress, land only in certain wind [conditions. It is not considered suitable for serious competition. i Canterbury’s leading pole vault coach, Mr Eric Rowe, is appalled that the council has permitted the fixed rail. The international athletes would almost certainly refuse to vault alongside the rail, which was inhibiting performances by New Zealand athletes aware of the risks they were taking. “This [is one reason why the New [Zealand record has not fallen I this year. It is also discouraging pcie vaulters. Last year :I had a group of 17 young [Vaulters; now there are only [a handful left.” j “T don’t expect anything [will be done until someone is seriously hurt. Then. I [wonder who will accept responsibility — the council or the greyhound club."

One of New Zealand's finest pole vaulters, Kieran McKee. does not entirely agree. "It worried me on Saturday. You only have to be a little bit off; a wrong movement, and you are on the rail. When you vault, you do not really know where you are until you see the bar underneath. If you don’t make it into the pit on the other side, you are in big trouble.” he said. Asked if he felt he could fall on the rail, McKee said: “Yes, definitely. I am getting a new pole in a couple of weeks, and it takes me two weeks to even reach the pit. The rail is bad for the catchers. too. They have got to stand outside the rail and then jump it to get the poles.” The New Zealand champion, Mike Ritchie, said the real danger was for the beginners. “They tend to go to the right or left. But I will be worried when J have to break in a new pole. If you haven’t got the speed to get through into the pit. you can fall back. At present, it is inot even possible to put the [pit out properly. There is [only room for two of the [three mats because of the I rail.” At the least, he expects to [lose a number of poles by I breaking them on the rail. And at $l7O each, this is more than just a passing worry.