Holly Bleasdale 4.70, Age 19 WR, UK National Record

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/others ... rmany.html

Bleasdale soars to set new pole vault record in Germany
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 9:17 PM on 2nd July 2011

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Holly Bleasdale set a UK senior national record and global best by a teenager at the Bauhaus Junioren Gala in Mannheim, Germany.
She cleared 4.70m and is now ranked second-equal in the world this year at senior level.
She said: 'I knew heights like 4.70m were within me but I didn't think I could actually jump that high.'

Over the top: Holly Bleasdale set the highest jump ever for a teenager in the pole vault

[rainbowgirl28]

It is not a WJR because Holly turns 20 this year, but it is an age 19 world record (if that makes sense).

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/ble ... -mannheim/


Bleasdale smashes UK pole vault record in Mannheim
Holly Bleasdale vaults 4.70m in Germany

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Jon Mulkeen


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World junior bronze medallist Holly Bleasdale today made another giant leap up in class at the Bauhaus Gala in Mannheim, Germany, as she added 10 centimetres to the UK pole vault record.

Bleasdale, who last weekend set a PB of 4.53m in Bedford, finally nailed the 4.60m height she had been attempting all year before going on to clear 4.65m and 4.70m – some 17 centimetres higher than her previous best.

The height is also a world age-19 best and ranks her at joint third on the 2011 world rankings, level with European champion Svetlana Feofanova and world indoor champion Fabiana Murer.

Before today the UK record was held by world finalist Kate Dennison at 4.60m. But ever since Bleasdale’s breakthrough during the 2011 indoor season when she improved her best from 4.35m to 4.50m, the UK record had looked to be living on borrowed time.

“I had such a good day,” said Bleasdale, who is now the overwhelming favourite for the European Under-23 Championships later this month. “The weather conditions were perfect, it was a great atmosphere, I was feeling really great and running well and the technique I’ve been working on in training has finally been transferred into competition.

“I was so happy when I cleared 4.60m and I knew heights like 4.70m were within me but I didn’t think I could actually jump that high. I’m just so happy I can’t even put it into words; I don’t think it’s even really hit me yet. I’ve been training so hard and it’s great to know it’s paying off!”

[julienraf]

ho folks,

here is some videos

4.60m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5iGEedfoks

4.65m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZB54JRThVY

4.70m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLywvTEwy4

Also, her training partner, Katie Byres, aged 17, won the junior meet with a new PR at 4.20m !!!

Julien

[rainbowgirl28]

Wow Holly looks like she has a lot of room to improve her technique! I'm excited to see what the future brings for her.

[Bubba PV]

I saw this coming with last week's video. Shes a BEAST in a very good way! CONGRATS!! Bubba

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/sport ... _1_3568405


Sky’s the limit for pole-vaulter Holly


Published on Tuesday 12 July 2011 01:58

Chorley pole-vaulter Holly Bleasdale says the sky’s the limit when she competes in the European 23s Championships at the weekend.

The 19-year-old former Parklands High School pupils is one of the most talked about UK athletes after a series of stunning performances.

On Sunday she took part in the Diamond League event in Birmingham and finished second with a jump of 4.61 metres.

She had to jump despite atrocious weather conditions and says if the sun comes out for the European U23 Championships in the Czech Republic she thinks she can go even higher.

Holly said after competing in Birmingham: “I know I’m in good shape so I’m so excited for the weekend (and the ) European U23s.

“If it’s good weather I’m hoping to do something high.”

Holly was the subject of a lengthy conversation on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday when commentator and former athlete Allison Curbishley said she was one of the hottest prospects in British athletics.

Her profile has shot up after a record-breaking performance in the recent Bauhaus Junioren-Gala in Mannheim, Germany.

Holly broke the British record for pole-vaulting and followed it up with a jump that was the world’s best for a 19-year-old when she went over at 4.7metres.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ju ... pole-vault


Holly Bleasdale's pole vaulting ambition leads trio of fresh hopes
With Lawrence Okoye in the discus and the ballet dancer turned hammer thrower Sophie Hitchon, Holly Bleasdale is part of a trio of bright teenage prospects for the UK trials in Birmingham

Anna Kessel
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 28 July 2011 20.50 BST
Article history

Holly Bleasdale has developed from a pole vaulting novice three years ago to setting a world age-group record of 4.70m that ranked her No6 in the world this year. Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images
Two years ago Britain's head coach, Charles van Commenee, was lamenting the state of the nation's field events. The Dutchman seemed almost resigned to the idea that there would not be many medals at London 2012 in that area.

"We are appalling in the throws and the women's jumps," he said at the time, "but we knew that and we're not going to surprise the world in the next few weeks in these events … In certain events, we cannot improve before 2012 because time is against us, but long term certainly."

Little did he dream that two years later Great Britain would have produced three 19-year-old national senior record breakers this summer, let alone boast two in the world's top 10.

Three remarkable success stories have become intertwined – Lawrence Okoye in the discus, Holly Bleasdale in the pole vault and Sophie Hitchon in the hammer all won medals in this month's European Under-23 Championships (two golds and one bronze) despite being recent recruits to their events.

Okoye, from south London, gave up a promising career in rugby to train for 2012 in the discus and after 18 months in the sport is already ranked fourth in the world this year, with a European Under-23 title and the British record under his belt to boot.

Hitchon announced her presence by winning the world junior title last summer – the first Briton to win a global medal in the hammer – after switching from ballet three years earlier. This year she improved the British senior record for a second time, throwing a personal best of 69.59m at the European Under-23 Championships to take bronze and climb into the world's top 30.

Ahead of the UK trials in Birmingham this weekend Bleasdale has developed from a pole vaulting novice three years ago to setting a world age-group record of 4.70m that ranked her No6 in the world this year.

Not so long ago only one British woman was known for setting a plethora of national records in the event – 27-year-old Kate Dennison – but Bleasdale's startling progress has blown her rival out of the water.

Asked whether Dennison had reminded her that pole vaulters are renowned for breaking records by small margins – not insignificantly rewarded at £5,000 a time in this country – Bleasdale says: "I know, I know, but I just want to get big heights. I'm not bothered about breaking it 1cm at a time … I've wanted the British record for a while now and I'm glad that I've got it and exceeded it by 10cm. It's given me a lot of confidence and I'm just excited to get back vaulting now in competitions where people are pushing me on."

Earlier in the day, sat alongside the Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu and the multiple world and European medal winner Jenny Meadows, Bleasdale had to pinch herself about keeping company with such accomplished athletes. At the time of Ohuruogu's Olympic win in August 2008, Bleasdale had not even attempted a pole vault.

It was only in October that year that she tried it at a taster session at her local athletics club – after several years of heptathlon and gymnastics – and found she had an aptitude for the event. Now she is being tipped for a medal at the world championships, which start next month in the South Korean city of Daegu, and a podium place in 2012.

Not that Bleasdale, who helps out with the odd waitressing shift at her local Italian restaurant, is getting carried away. "People have said you should go there [Daegu] for a medal but I don't think I should because there's quite a lot of girls who have been jumping for a long time who can jump consistently at 4.70m. I think I need to get the consistency before I go there all confident for a medal."

The teenager says she has plenty to learn in terms of her technique. "If I'm jumping 4.70m now with faults then once I've ironed them out in a couple of years' time I'll be jumping a lot higher." She does not rule out the chances of her heroine, Yelena Isinbayeva, the two-times Olympic champion and world record holder now returning from injury. "She can jump 4.80m whatever day she wants. I think she's a big threat at the worlds."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/14327430.stm


Holly Bleasdale has 'other priorities' before Olympics

Page last updated at 08:05 GMT, Friday, 29 July 2011 09:05 UK
E-mail this to a friendPrintable version
Bleasdale broke the British women's pole vault record in July
Preston pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale says the London 2012 Olympics are not her immediate priority.

The 19-year-old Blackburn Harriers athlete followed up breaking the British women's pole vault record in July by clinching gold at the European Under-23 championships in Ostrava.

Bleasdale looks set for a place at London 2012 but is now focusing on competing at the World Championships in August in Daegu, South Korea.

"I've got the qualifying height, I am thinking about it but there are other priorities," she told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I've upped my training sessions, I've been working on technical aspects."

Bleasdale took up the sport only three years ago and the Lancashire athlete wishes she had more experience as she prepares for the two biggest events of her career to date.

"I was doing hurdles and high jump at northern leagues, I never realised pole vaulting was an event, went to some taster sessions and really enjoyed it," she said.

"There's so many times when I wish I could have started it early, just think where I'd be now.

"But then I wouldn't have got the vital experiences from the other sports I do like gymnastics, football and netball, all the training I did for them has helped me get where I am now.

"Pole vaulting is a sport where you really have to trust your coach, if he's asking you to put your foot half back or take massive poles, you have to trust him or you could effectively die."

Her French coach, Julien Raffalli, has great hopes for Bleasdale, even though she has only been in the sport for a short time.

"Pole vaulters really mature after 10 years of practice, Holly only has been doing it for about three years, I think she can do really well," he said.

"To be a good pole vaulter you need to have physical ability and mental strength too. By doing gymnastics she came to pole vaulting with some training with knowing it."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athle ... -bleasdale


BRITISH pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has literally and figuratively come on leaps and bounds over the past ten months - and she's adamant she won't be falling flat on her face anytime soon.


KNOWING NO LIMITS: Pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale wants to build on an impressive 2011 next summer

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the success stories of UK Athletics this year - having shot herself from relative obscurity and into the domestic and international limelight.

Having only taken up pole vault in autumn 2008 and suffering from a foot injury in 2009 - Bleasdale gave warning of the 2011 to come after grabbing world junior bronze in 2010.

However not even she expected to achieve what she has since then.

It began with the British indoor title in February, earning her a jump at the European Championships in Paris, before a leap of 4.70m in Germany in early July saw her break the British record.

The European under-23 title followed just two weeks later while British outdoor gold, in the same time span, assured her of a place on the plane to Daegu and the World Championships.

Bleasdale faltered in South Korea failing to record a jump as she struggled with peaking at two major championships in a year - but she insists she'll be firing on all cylinders next summer.

"This year hasn't been a surprise but a big leap up - jumping the national record and going to the World Championships - I didn't expect to do that," said Bleasdale.

"It has been such a big step up from where I was previously and it is a big confidence boost knowing that I can jump at the highest level and compete with the best girls in the world.

"I have learnt a lot as well - I wasn't feeling my best at the worlds and I had to cope mentally with that and it will make me stronger.

"I know why it happened and we are taking the positives from that - I am still a young athlete with not too much experience in the sport and I wasn't able to hold my peak long enough.

"But never again will I ever have to double peak - this year I peaked for the European under-23s and going to the worlds I had to peak again and it didn't really work.

"From now on I will have one major championship a year, whether it be the Olympics, worlds or Europeans, my focus will always be on one of them.

"It is weird to say that this time next year the Olympics will be over and done with - it is coming around so quick - and it could well be the best experience of my career."

Bleasdale enjoyed a two-week break upon her return from Daegu and, having recently returned to training, she will be at the Bullring in Birmingham on October 2 as part of the Aviva Athletics Roadshow.

And, while next year's Olympics are very much her next aim, Bleasdale will compete during the indoor season in 2012, which culminates with the World Championships in Istanbul in March.

"I enjoy competing indoors - there is no wind or rain. Sometimes outdoors you can feel great in the warm up but then the conditions change and it has an effect," she added.

"But that doesn't happen indoors and you can just get out there and do what you can. I will compete at the top pole vault meets next year and hopefully end it by going to the worlds."