The Long Jump 1958

Image from Sheila Kelsall. Thank you, Sheila.

Here's a photo of Sheila taken by Mr. Leonard on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 15th 1958. Mr. Hassall is kneeling on the right hand side of the picture. The Athletics Meeting was held at the Fartown Cricket Ground, Huddersfield and HGS used to send a School team every year to what was called the Huddersfield Sports. Other schools which competed against HGS were Brighouse, Honley, Penistone, Rastrick and Royds Hall. The competitions were divided into three age groups, Juniors - under 13years 3months; Middles - 13.3 - 15years and Seniors - over 15years. Sheila's age meant that she was classified as a "Middle". The event record of 15ft 7ins had been established in 1955 by a Penistone competitor, and as luck would have it, this very jump which was captured by the camera measured 15ft 10½ ins.

The following year our competitors, all sporting the number 2 on their chests and backs, again competed, and Sheila managed to stretch the record even further to 16ft 2ins.