Road warrior Tunnicliff eyes final hundred

FORMER prop Tim Tunnicliff is on the final leg of a mammoth 500 mile run to help raise funds and awareness for mental health charities involved with rugby.

Four weeks ago Tunnicliff, 45, set off from Land’s End and has covered 400 miles – visiting 70 rugby clubs along the way.

His target is to make it to London on Fridaywhere he will finish at one of his former clubs, Old Colfeians.

A road-weary Tunnicliff, below, told TRP: “It really has been like an afternoon on a trampoline – plenty of ups and downs. In all honesty, the running has been the easy bit.

“Planning and the constant contact needed with clubs and the individual people who have been kind enough to put me up and drive my bag from stop to stop has been far harder and more time-consuming than I could ever have expected. It’s been a logistical challenge as much as a physical one.

“Overall it’s been incredibly uplifting and it’s great to see the rugby spirit alive across the country. Some clubs are struggling a little postCovid but they are fighting to get back to where they were.”

As well as blisters, Tunnicliff – who has also played for Cheltenham, Blackheath, Esher and Ealing – has had to contend with shin splints and some horrible weather over the last month.

“I’ve seen some incredible scenery – especially on the coastal paths of Cornwall – but there has been some dire weather days when even the ducks were looking for cover!

“I’ve had some despair of getting injured and thinking it might not be possible to finish but now I have the giddy anticipation of the final week and all that that will bring.”

Tunnicliff has raised £3,500. To donate, visit: