Ernest Latimer Stones was an English amateur track and field athlete, who broke the world record for the pole vault at the Northern Counties Championships at Southport in June 1888. He cleared 11 feet 7 inches (3.53m) to beat by three-eighths of an inch the record then held by Thomas Ray of Ulverston. The record lasted for three years and one month until Richard Dickinson cleared 11 feet 9 inches (3.58m) at Kidderminster in July 1891. Ernest Stones (United Kingdom) set the men's pole vault world record of 3.53 m in Southport on June 2, 1888. It stood 4 months, until Thomas Ray's 3.555 m on September 22, 1888. Wiki link