Maurice Tarrant

Maurice Tarrant

Maurice Tarrant

Maurice Tarrant

Maurice Tarrant

Maurice Tarrant

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At 87 years young, Maurice Tarrant is the epitome of a “running legend.”

Maurice credits his fitness foundation to growing up in the seaside town of Paignton, Devon, England. At 10, he’d run home from school to do his paper route and by 14, he learned the gas fitting trade, a job which involved cycling for miles with equipment in hand! By 16, Maurice had joined the Paignton Rugby and Rowing clubs and a couple years later, at a local dance on the seafront, he met the love of his life, Phyllis. They eventually had to postpone their wedding date so Maurice and his coxed fours to compete in, and win, the junior championship of Great Britain!

Maurice joined the RAF at age 21 as an engine mechanic and ran his first race near his station. By 1956, he represented Devon in the three and six mile events in the British Games at White City Stadium, London. The following year, Maurice and Phyllis moved to Canada and he became the Quebec three mile champion before they settled in Ottawa to raise their growing family.

Tired of long cold winters, they moved to Victoria in 1981 and Maurice, then in his mid- 50’s, rediscovered running. He ran every lunchtime from his property management job at BCSC and also joined the Prairie Inn Harriers (PIH). With the club’s “Mellow Fellows,” Maurice competed in long-distance relay races, including the Haney to Harrison, Jasper to Banff and Skagway to Whitehorse events.

Over the years, Maurice has set a staggering 65 Canadian age class records, 10 world single age records, completed over 200 Island Series races, and eight marathons. He has achieved unparalleled success with the Harriers in the form of awards, accolades and friendships. The PIH bestowed the Alex Marshall Master of the Year Award upon their ‘master of the road’ a record eight times. In 2004 the club named a perpetual trophy the Maurice Tarrant Veteran of the Year Award, citing him as the “greatest master runner in the history of the Prairie Inn Harriers”.

In 2005 Maurice was inducted into the Frontrunners Walk of Fame. In 2007, he received the Harriers Lifetime Membership Award and in 2010, he was awarded the Gunner Shaw MVP trophy, the Victoria Run Series perpetual Maurice Tarrant Performance Award and the B.C. Athletics Master Road Race Award. In 2010, Maurice was inducted into the Canadian Masters Athletic Association Hall of Fame and in 2014, he received a unique Harriers award - Members Choice for High Achievement - as a “tribute to recognize his phenomenal performances on a local, provincial, national and world stage.”

Maurice is a generous, humble and inspirational gentleman who treasures his family and friends. He was married to his beloved wife Phyllis for 63 glorious years and has five children and 10 grandchildren. He currently trains with his middle daughter Claire, and says they are proud to dedicate their accomplishments to “our angel Phyllis, beloved wife, Mum and Nana.”

Diane Cummins

Diane Cummins

Diane Cummins

Diane Cummins

Diane Cummins

Diane Cummins

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Same girls...different track. It’s that simple really. And it’s that simplicity which kept Diane Cummins competing at the top of her game whether at the Olympic Games or at the Victoria International Track Classic.

A middle distance runner born in South Africa, Diane competed in running sports like track, cross country, netball and field hockey as a youngster. Her family moved to Canada in 1994 where, on 10 occasions, she won gold at the Canadian national track championships in the 800 metre.

Diane has run an outstanding 26 times under 2:00 minutes in the 800m. She won a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio, silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. She has maintained a world-class ranking almost four times longer than the average athlete.

Diane followed Charmaine Crooks as Canadian record holder and the second Canadian to break the two-minute barrier in the two lap 800m distance with her 1:58.39 in 2001.

“I think growing up into my adult years, I always aspired to be like Charmaine because she was the great Canadian 800m runner, and also Vicky Pounds, one of my best friends,” says
Diane. “I think everything I’ve done in sport has led to a relationship with someone and a connection. The goals have always been there for me to achieve, but more than anything I competed in the sport with a lot of love and a lot of friendships and that’s what counts.”

And it doesn’t stop there. Proving there is life after international competition, at the America’s Masters Games held in Vancouver in 2016, Cummins - who now lives in Missoula, Montana - helped her relay team win master’s gold and break the 4 x 800m world record for the 40-44 age category.

Over her 15+ year career, Diane has inspired hundreds, if not thousands of future middle distance runners. A true believer in clean sport and an outspoken advocate for equality and accountability, Diane is a genuine role model and mentor to the many middle distance runners who hope to follow in her footsteps.

Over a long career with many highlights, some accomplishments stand out more than others for Diane.

“Obviously the medals, for me, are a highlight. That’s something that proves you worked hard and achieved something, but my highlights through the sport have definitely been more emotional,” she continues. “I remember, in 2002, when I won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, I had no idea where my dad or my family were sitting in the stands. I looked down for a second and looked back up and looked straight at him, one of 40,000 people, and he came down to the track and gave me a hug.

“The highlights for me have been really the connections I’ve made with people. Every single coach I’ve had, I appreciate. Sport has always been a way for me to connect with people.”

SPONSORED BY MANN, MOULSON & CO.