Run wild, run free, that's the way to do it lads
Alex Churchill, 15, from Penhalurick on the Roseland, launched the club with his Truro friends Oz Weeks, 17, Toby Fleming, 14, and 17-year-old Josh Munyard three years ago.
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“I knew there was someone in Truro who was doing it because I saw him around.
“One day I approached him and asked to join in.”
Participants in the fast-growing free-running craze require strength, balance and suppleness.
As they practice and improve, parkour competitors, or traceur as they are known, evolve and specialise.
Alex said: “My skills and favourite manoeuvres lie in strength and climbing, whereas Ozzy is really into his flips and gymnastics.”
Ozzy and Josh also participate in the martial art tae kwon do and incorporate the skills into their free running.
The club's favourite Truro venues are the NCP multi-storey car park and the area in front of the Truro Law Courts.
And these institutions appear to take a positive view.
Alex added: “Nobody really minds as long as we don't damage anything.
“At the law courts, they just come out and say, look if you do happen to damage anything, just let us know.
“But if we make a mistake, it's more likely to be ourselves we damage.”
The club members roam further afield in their pursuit of the sport.
They often visit Plymouth, where the post-war pedestrian boulevards and The Hoe provide the perfect parkour playground.
Toby added: “We also go down to Perranporth and train on the dunes.
“Obviously sand is great to train in, but it can be dodgy if you skid out as you land.”
Now, the currently nameless group is looking to expand and involve more people.
Toby said: “We used to call ourselves The Infinite Free Runners, but don't really use that any more. We don't really have a name, it's more about what we do.”
With Tim Evans, sports development officer at Roseland School, they have already set up a series of workshops with students.
Mr Evans said: “The initiative came from the pupils really. It's brilliant, there's a real camaraderie – there's no taking the mick from the peer group, just encouragement.
“There's an amount of negative press about free running, with people saying that they are damaging the railings and walls they use.
“But there's no point in them doing that. It's what they're using to practise the sport – it's their medium of expression.”
Toby added: “Our workshops at Roseland School were really successful, so now they're turning into a regular thing.
“We really want to raise awareness, and get more people involved in the sport in Cornwall.”
If you are interested in free running, e-mail Alex at alex.churchill@hotmail.co.uk or visit the message boards at www.devonparkour.com
For more information on the sport, you should contact tevans@theroseland.co.uk
High and handsome. Oz vaults the railings.
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