Steve Hooker had a close shave in his final meet before the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic champion missing the mat in a leap in northern England.
The pole vaulter failed to register a height in the gusty conditions at an Australia v England competition on the banks of the River Tyne in Newcastle, won 5-4 by the home nation.
The world, Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion failed in his three attempts at 5.40m at the Great North City Games but was fortunate not to injure himself as he came down near the right support on his second jump.
“It was one of those days in a sense,” he said.
“It was not the easiest conditions to jump in.
“I had a couple of hairy winds and that is why I missed the pit and that shook me up for my last jump a little bit.”
