Just how fast are the threequarters at Redruth Rugby Club?  A group of the Reds outsides joined the Senior sprint group at Cornwall Athletic Club recently and were put through their paces by one of the club’s sprint and hurdle coaches, Neil Tunstall.

One of the 100metre races gets undereway

After a thorough and essential warm up which involved stretching exercises and a wide range of sprint drills, the rugby players and athletes lined up for the first series of races over 100 metres.  In the the first race sixteen year old Cornwall AC sprinter David Willis flew down the home straight winning in 11.3 seconds and equalling his personal best time.  England Sevens international Rob Thirlby, comfortably the fastest of the rugby contigent, finished second, sharing the same time (11.6) with the athletic club’s 400 metre hurdle specialist David Green.  The Reds winger Lewis Vinnicombe was fourth, clocking 11.9.

Redruth teacher Neil Tunstall (CAC) leads former student Paul Teixiera

In the first 200 metres race the top four remained the same, with Green (23.2) edging ahead of Thirlby (23.7), as both runners showed great strength as well as speed to ease through the 24 second barrier.  Willis (24.0) got the better of Vinnicombe (24.6), with another of the rugby squad, Mark Phillips, powering his way across the line in a most respectable 24.8.

More action from another 100metre race

The evening’s final race over 400 metres, won as expected by Green, who cruised around in 54.9 seconds, featured four of the rugby players, with Thirlby once again ably demonstrating his superior fitness, clocking 56.7.  There were also quality performances from the hard working Phillips (60.9) and brave runs, after a very busy evening from Nick Simmons (62.4) and Adam Hosking (65.0)

David Green (lane 1) leads Rob Thirlby (lane 3) in the 200metres

RESULTS

100m  Race 1

1 David Willis CAC 11.3

2 Rob Thirlby REDS 11.6

3 David Green CAC 11.6

4 Lewis Vinnicombe REDS 11.9

5 Mark Phillips REDS 12.2

6 Nick Simmons REDS 12.7

100m Race 2

1 Phil Warwicker CAC 11.8

2 Neil Tunstall (Vet 45-49) CAC 12.4

3 Alan Rule REDS 12.6

4 Craig Bonds REDS 12.8

5 Paul Teixeira REDS 13.0

100m Race 3

1 Jordon West CAC 12.1

2 Matt Parnall CAC 12.3

3 Tom Willis CAC 12.7

4 Alan Hosking REDS 13.5

5 Steve Kenward REDS 13.5

6 Russell May REDS 14.0

200m Race 1

1 David Green CAC 23.2

2 Rob Thirlby REDS 23.7

3 David Willis CAC 24.0

4 Lewis Vinnicombe REDS 24.6

5 Mark Phillips REDS 24.8

6 Nick Simmons REDS 25.9

200m Race 2

1 Phil Warwicker CAC 24.6

2 Neil Tunstall CAC 25.1

3 Alan Rule REDS 25.9

4 Craig Bonds REDS 26.6

5 Paul Teixeira REDS 27.3

200m Race 3

1 Jordon West CAC 24.6

2 Matt Parnall CAC 24.9

3 Tom Willis CAC 26.7

4 Alan Hosking REDS 27.8

5 Steve Kenward REDS 28.5

6 Russell May REDS 29.6

400m

1 David Green CAC 54.9

2 Jordon West CAC 55.7

3 Rob Thirlby REDS 56.7

4 David Willis CAC 58.9

5 Mark Phillips REDS 60.9

6 Nick Simmons REDS 62.4

7 Phil Warwicker CAC 62.8

8 Alan Hosking REDS 65.0

CAC and the Reds pose as the sun sets at the Leisure Centre