The Greyhounds Masters Track and Field Club is proof it’s possible for old dogs to learn new tricks.
The club’s president, Urith Hayley, said most of its 100 members discovered track and field later in life. Some migrated from contact sports like soccer. Others wanted to expand their competitive horizons after they’d accomplished 10km runs.
“It’s good for you mentally to learn something new when you’re older,” said Hayley, 66, between hammer throws and shot puts at the regular Tuesday throwing clinics the club runs at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam.
“We’re couch potato avoiders,” said her training partner for the day, Arthur Gee, 73.
Hayley and Gee are in the final preparations for their respective pentathlon events at the 55+ BC Games, which are being held in Vernon, Sept. 12 to 16.
The club, whose members range from 38 to 92 years-old is the largest of its kind in Canada. Up until the beginning of this year, its members hold 320 provincial records and 116 national and/or world track and field records.
And they’re about to expand their repertoire, as the club recently acquired a used pole vault apparatus.
•The Greyhounds’ weekly throwing clinics operate every Tuesday through Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam. For more information about the club, go to www.greyhoundstrack.com
