Roy Cruttenden:

Main events 1954 European Games, 1956 Olympics, 1958 Commonwealth.

Between 1949-1958 competed variously for England, Great Britain and the Commonwealth. Held the GB long jump record until broken by Lynn Davies in 1960. Still holds the Sussex County Seniors long-jump record.

Can you explain your sporting past? How did you get into long jump?

I started long jumping whilst at school in the mid 30's. I broke all the school records and believe that I still hold the Sussex County seniors record in the long jump.

In addition I sprinted and competed in the quarter mile. In fact I did not give up sprinting, quarter mileing, or indeed playing football until about 1949 when my international carrier started to take off.

How long did you compete internationally and at which major events?

I recall that my first international event was Great Britain–v- Francestaged in Bordeauxin 1950. My last event was competing in the Commonwealth games at Cardiffin 1958 when I was placed 5^th. I actually had 10 seasons as an international long jumper, my best recorded jump being 24 feet 10 ¾ inches which I jumped for the Commonwealth –v- USA in New South Wales Australia immediately after the 1956 Olympics.

In those days we were amateur (with a few notable exceptions including the Russians and Nigerians who seem to be in paid military service) and therefore had to compete against numerous conflicting interests. Indeed early in 1958 I was posted toGibraltarto work as an Admiralty engineer. When I arrived there they did not even have a long jump pit. I recall having to build my own. It was difficult for me to train effectively inGibraltarand this was perhaps why my performance in the Commonwealth Games was disappointing. It certainly led to my retirement at the seemingly old age of 33.

What did your training regime consist of? Diet?

Training regimes appeared to be light. Until about 1949 I played competitive football all winter, risking injury as a centre forward. From about 1950 I had to concentrate on more winter training - in those days athletics took place in the Summer. I do not believe that my training amounted to more than about 7 hours per week, being confined to lunch times and free evenings after work. My training involved rigorous sprinting and pace work, consistency of stride being crucial to secure accurate take offs. My training regime was not quite enough and I was certainly prone to sustaining muscle injury to my thighs. I suppose that my residual level of fitness was high. I was a soldier from 1943-1947 and lived a physically active life on a wartime diet which I think prepared me well for my subsequent athletics career. My jumping leg was left – about 15 years ago I had my left hip replaced, no doubt as a result of too much strenuous activity on the take off board.

There was no such thing as controlled diet in my day. I simply ate healthily although the wartime rationing regime was more or less over by 1950 and meant that my diet became unrestricted from regulation. I even managed the odd glass of wine although most of the time stuck to tea and water.

When you see the Olympics approaching today, what do you think about the many changes sport has undergone since you competed?

The difference now is the professional nature of sport. This is a great shame as athletics has changed in character, I think for the worst. I was able to combine athletics with ordinary family life (by 1958 my sons were 3 and 1 years old respectively), a career as an engineer and for a time I taught two evenings a week as a lecturer in engineering at the local polytechnic college. This meant that I could bring my athletics into the work place and encourage my colleagues and friends to aspire to the cause of physical fitness. Today professional athletes are too remote, are not often grounded in the community and are prone to be put on a celebrity pedestal. Professionalism means that ordinarily fit individuals like me cannot now compete on the international athletics stage.

What is the main issue in sport you would like to see addressed today?

It would be difficult to turn the clock back but, if I had the chance to do so, I would want to reinstate amateur athletics at international level.