Fitness tests prove to benefit both sides

SOME might have seen it as punishment for Siam Cup defeat. But the Guernsey Rugby Club players who were put through a screening session by athletics development officer Lee Merrien, certainly seemed to enjoy it.

The session tested their speed, power and endurance and there were benefits for both sides.

'It is probably not ideal to do it at the end of our season, but we are very grateful Lee has offered this to us,' said Guernsey captain Andy Bailey, who was one of the 14 put through his paces.

'We benefit from trying something different. As well as the physical side of things, it is good mental exercise because you can get into a routine in training if you are always doing the same things.

'Something like this makes you think about what you are doing and we can learn from someone else's knowledge. It is about different initiatives being introduced to test yourself in other areas.

'From Lee's point of view, he is trying to see if there is any undiscovered athletics talent out there and you could see there were guys with potential.'

The session began with a standing high jump before moving on to the 'flying 30' where the athletes are timed sprinting over 30m having had a running start.

Next up was the overhead shot put, in which the competitors, in Merrien's words, look to get 'as much explosiveness' as they can as they hurl the 7kg shot with both arms.

It was back to the track for the final two events - 60m sprint races and an endurance test that required the athletes to run for 60sec., stop for a three-minute rest before doing another 60sec. They were judged by the total distance they covered in the two minutes of running time.

Designed as a fun session, a few stars emerged.

From the recognised first XV players, centre Jim Elliott and number eight James Regnard unsurprisingly proved to be fine all-rounders. Of those from the second team, Alex Miller and Aaron Le Messurier were more than capable on the track.

Bailey believes Merrien has stumbled across a formula that could benefit many more sports.

'People suddenly find themselves to be a natural at something they have not done before,' he said.

'There are probably athletes out there who would make very good rugby players but have never thought about giving it a try.

'If there are people in other sports who want to see what rugby is about, we would certainly welcome them to come along and give it a go.'

Merrien was pleased with the response he had from the rugby players and he is set to do similar sessions with other sports.

At the end of the month, the first Healthspan Cross-sport Challenge will be held when teams from rugby, football, hockey and other sports, perhaps netball and swimming, will take part in an a track and field competition.

'If successful, maybe it will become an annual thing,' said Merrien.