Garth Ball became the the top master in British Columbia and in Canada when he turned 40 in 1978 and held that title for many, many years. He never lost a race for 10 consecutive years in the master's division. Garth went on to race well in the M50, M60 and now in the M70 age categories where he still tops his division. Maurice turned 40 in 1970 and since then he has set over 60 Canadian age-class records in every distance from one mile to the marathon. Maurice has finished first in his age division in 250 consecutive Island Series and other Vancouver Island races. Clearly a record that will never be broken, even by an Olympian like Simon Whitfield, Bruce Deacon or Jon Brown. Both Maurice and Garth are deserving lifetime PIH members for their brilliant running performances.
The dynamic duo also hold another Harriers record - unrelated to their running prowess. They have collectively moved their households 44 times in the last 25 years! And they are on the move again. Effective November 1, Garth will be moving from Sooke to Oak Bay and Maurice will be moving from Central Saanich to Cordova Bay. Both seasoned veterans will be closer to their families and their favourite Thursday morning running group partners. Although Maurice holds the record for Canadian Age Class marks with 65, Garth holds the record for club moves with 32. His moves have taken him from Victoria to Vancouver to Parksville to Qualicum to Sooke and he has resided in every one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities. I would hate to see his budget for moving trucks! Maurice, on the other hand, has tended to yo-yo back and forth on the Peninsula. He has moved from Saanich to North Saanich, back to Saanich, to Central Saanich, back to Saanich, to Sidney, back to Saanich, to North Saanich, and finally back to Saanich again.
It's great to see these two prolific runners keeping the moving companies in business at the same time as they add to their fine running records. Welcome home, boys!