Gerald MacDonald: Pole Vaulter--Reaching New Heights
Gerald MacDonald, was born September 28, 1933. Growing up in Springfield, Antigonish County, he came from a large family of nine boys and one girl. Their mother and father were farmers who worked hard to provide a life for their young family.
Gerald was introduced to pole vaulting by a box of Wheaties, the "Breakfast of Champions". The inspiration was a picture of the Reverend Bob Richards, an Olympic world champion pole vaulter. Gerald looked at the box every morning, and announced to his mother that he hoped to become a pole vaulter in the Highland Games.
To help him improve in his sport, Gerald and his father would find properly supple spruce poles, strip the bark from them, and cut them into ten foot lengths, so Gerald could develop the skills demonstrated in the Highland Games. His mother encouraged him by allowing the poles to be dried out above the wood stove.
It was common for families to make their own toys. Gerald's brother, Colin, who later went to Normal College in Truro, would come home with many ideas to enhance their running and jumping skills.
Gerald and his brother, Jamie, become very good at hockey, playing on the ponds and on Sunday walking three miles through the woods to play against the boys from Fraser's Mills. Their first hockey sticks were made out of alders.
When Gerald was 16 years old, he was recognized as a good athlete. He was selected by the local parish priest, Father George Topshee, to go to Antigonish to join the track and field team. The intention was to attend a track and field meet in New Glasgow, which was held on the Blue Acres Horse Race Track. Gerald had only been to Antigonish on three previous occasions, and when his mother gave him permission to join the Antigonish team he thought he was going to the Olympics!
This was Gerald's first major track and field event and he was finally going to show his prowess as a pole vaulter. The year was 1950 and Gerald won first place at the meet. He was on his way to becoming a very successful athlete over the next twenty years.
Around this time, the MacDonald home in Springfield burned down and the family moved into Town. Members of this large family were immediately noticed as successful athletes in local hockey circles, and on track and field teams. The family attended Morrison School, which boasted a rich athletic tradition under the leadership of J.P. MacInnis.
In the early 1950s, Gerald came under the influence and coaching of Frank MacGibbon, who was hired to develop Columbus Field--which included baseball fields and a facility for track and field. It was also to become the home of the annual Highland Games. Frank was a ticket to success for Gerald, who would spend his next formative years under Frank's influence. Gerald indicated that he and Frank were very close and he attributes a great deal of his success to his mentor.
At this time, it was widely held that working with ropes was a strength technique that should be employed for a successful pole vaulter. Gerald was able to obtain a length of heavy rope that had been stored in the Armouries. He set up the climbing rope in an elm tree in a field not far from his house, and would spend hours climbing the tree and the rope to build up strength in his arms and legs. Frank McGibbon believed that Gerald needed strong stomach muscles and would have him tie weights to his feet and then climb hand over hand up the rope hanging from the giant elm.
Gerald's greatest achievement was to be selected from a large group of athletes to attend the British Commonwealth Trials in Vancouver. He was one of the only two athletes chosen from Eastern Canada in 1954. Unfortunately, he was injured during practice, and was unable to compete in the Games.
Gerald competed in the Canadian Interprovincial Championships at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1953 and 1954, and won third and first in his event, respectively, on these occasions. An interesting anecdote relates to his big win in 1954. While training in Toronto for the championship, he and a friend wandered off to visit the CNE and bumped into Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who were in town as the main act for the exhibition. They spent much of the afternoon chatting with the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West, and Gerald's friend even got to ride Trigger, Rogers's famous horse, around the ring. Gerald remembers the couple as being terribly kind and warm. The next day, Rogers himself presented Gerald with this championship trophy.
Although he rarely competed nationally again (he won the Canadian Legion national championship in 1958), Gerald continued to be a powerhouse in his sport, winning championships across the Maritimes in the 1950s and 1960s, including placing first numerous times at the Antigonish Highland Games. His personal best height was 12 feet, 7 inches.
Gerald MacDonald was a good athlete, great pole vaulter, and an accomplished hockey player. Later in life, he would become a very accomplished bowler. He even became a piper with the Pictou County Pipes Association, with a love for playing like his ancestors before him. At the age of 90, Gerald remains active and fit, with fond memories of a long career in local sport.
Submitted by Ron Fraser, with files from the Antigonish Heritage Museum
At a very young age, Gerald became interested in track and field, at a time when it captured the interest of the many citizens of Antigonish County. Young men were inspired by the accomplishments of athletes at the Highland Games in Antigonish. Gerald's father would not begin his summer farming chores until after the Games were held--this was the practice throughout the County.
It was common for families to make their own toys. Gerald's brother, Colin, who later went to Normal College in Truro, would come home with many ideas to enhance their running and jumping skills.
Gerald and his brother, Jamie, become very good at hockey, playing on the ponds and on Sunday walking three miles through the woods to play against the boys from Fraser's Mills. Their first hockey sticks were made out of alders.
When Gerald was 16 years old, he was recognized as a good athlete. He was selected by the local parish priest, Father George Topshee, to go to Antigonish to join the track and field team. The intention was to attend a track and field meet in New Glasgow, which was held on the Blue Acres Horse Race Track. Gerald had only been to Antigonish on three previous occasions, and when his mother gave him permission to join the Antigonish team he thought he was going to the Olympics!
This was Gerald's first major track and field event and he was finally going to show his prowess as a pole vaulter. The year was 1950 and Gerald won first place at the meet. He was on his way to becoming a very successful athlete over the next twenty years.
Around this time, the MacDonald home in Springfield burned down and the family moved into Town. Members of this large family were immediately noticed as successful athletes in local hockey circles, and on track and field teams. The family attended Morrison School, which boasted a rich athletic tradition under the leadership of J.P. MacInnis.
In the early 1950s, Gerald came under the influence and coaching of Frank MacGibbon, who was hired to develop Columbus Field--which included baseball fields and a facility for track and field. It was also to become the home of the annual Highland Games. Frank was a ticket to success for Gerald, who would spend his next formative years under Frank's influence. Gerald indicated that he and Frank were very close and he attributes a great deal of his success to his mentor.
At this time, it was widely held that working with ropes was a strength technique that should be employed for a successful pole vaulter. Gerald was able to obtain a length of heavy rope that had been stored in the Armouries. He set up the climbing rope in an elm tree in a field not far from his house, and would spend hours climbing the tree and the rope to build up strength in his arms and legs. Frank McGibbon believed that Gerald needed strong stomach muscles and would have him tie weights to his feet and then climb hand over hand up the rope hanging from the giant elm.
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| MacDonald (right) posing with friend Bill McVicar, and holding his 1954 championship trophy (Antigonish Heritage Museum) |
Gerald's greatest achievement was to be selected from a large group of athletes to attend the British Commonwealth Trials in Vancouver. He was one of the only two athletes chosen from Eastern Canada in 1954. Unfortunately, he was injured during practice, and was unable to compete in the Games.
Gerald competed in the Canadian Interprovincial Championships at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1953 and 1954, and won third and first in his event, respectively, on these occasions. An interesting anecdote relates to his big win in 1954. While training in Toronto for the championship, he and a friend wandered off to visit the CNE and bumped into Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who were in town as the main act for the exhibition. They spent much of the afternoon chatting with the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West, and Gerald's friend even got to ride Trigger, Rogers's famous horse, around the ring. Gerald remembers the couple as being terribly kind and warm. The next day, Rogers himself presented Gerald with this championship trophy.
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| Gerald MacDonald's impressive collection of trophies and medals (Antigonish Heritage Museum) |
Gerald MacDonald was a good athlete, great pole vaulter, and an accomplished hockey player. Later in life, he would become a very accomplished bowler. He even became a piper with the Pictou County Pipes Association, with a love for playing like his ancestors before him. At the age of 90, Gerald remains active and fit, with fond memories of a long career in local sport.
Submitted by Ron Fraser, with files from the Antigonish Heritage Museum
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