Congratulations to a good friend and great human being for his induction in the South African coaching hall of fame. Richard Turnbull (pictured above [left] with middle-distance runner Matthews Temane), with a background in exercise physiology, achieved outstanding success as an athletics coach in the 1980s and 1990s. He also served as fitness coach, helping the Springbok rugby team to prepare for the 1995 world cup.
Emigrating to Australia in the 1990s Richard settled in Orange, NSW, where he again ventured into rugby, coaching the local Emus to four straight Central West Rugby Union premierships.
In a golden era for middle- and long-distance running in South Africa, Richard coached some outstanding black athletes (like Willie Motolo and Matthews Temane) who ironically were prevented from competing in the Olympics because of apartheid.