Aussie pole vaulter practices jumps by leaping over a TREE

This video shows a top pole vaulter practicing at his athletics track - by leaping over a EE.

Joel Pocklington perfectly propels himself over a four and a half metre branch - more than double his height.

The 36-year-old said the vault had been an idea which had played on his mind for several years before he finally decided to execute it.

He is seen landing the jump over a tree at his Athletics club in Melbourne, Australia.

Joel, who stands at 175cm (5ft 9in), said: "Whenever I was training at the club I always had my eye on the tree.

"I used to look at it thinking 'I reckon I could pole vault over that'.

"It was the right height I thought I could jump it - and it wasn't too low that it would look lame!"

Joel, who has been pole vaulting since the age of 14, added: "The tree is only 4.3 metres high - I can do that any day of the week.

"But it is a different mind game because it certainly isn't a normal pole vaulting setting!"

The father-of-two has been competing in pole-vaulting competitions for 22 years, and represented his country at national level in the 2014 Australian commonwealth games in Glasgow.

The highest pole vault Joel has ever completed is a whopping 5.41 metres, which he admits he's proud of but "isn't Olympic standards".

Since having children, Joel has been toning back his competitions, but still pole vaults regularly with Box Hill Athletic Club in the Eastern Melbourne suburbs and competes in domestic events.

To see Joel in action visit: https://www.instagram.com/joelpocklington/?hl=en