Ralph and Joelanne Stanfield aren't your typical seniors in their 70s.
Ralph is a sprinter and hurdler who is scheduled to compete in three events at this summer's B.C. Seniors Games in Burnaby, while wife Joelanne is a whiz on the badminton court.
The couple has won many medals at previous Seniors Games ever since they started competing in the 1990s - Joelanne started in 1993 and Ralph in 1996 - but this year is their first appearance in three years.
"I've had a couple of injuries," said Ralph, "and last year, we wanted to compete, but we were moving from our South Slope home, so that was a bit more important."
The couple missed last year's Games in the Kootenays while selling their South Slope home and moving into a New Westminster apartment. They later found a permanent home back in Burnaby and now settled again, they're ready to tear up the track and badminton courts once again.
"I'd like to do well, but for me, it's about getting out and running regularly and staying fit," said the energetic Ralph. "I'm running about 16 seconds for the 100 (metres) right now."
Ralph is modest about his accomplishments, but prod him about his previous times and he can tell you about running 11.6 seconds while in his 40s.
Ralph is planning to run the 100 and 200 metres, and compete in the long jump at this year's Games, but he's also participated in the 400-metre hurdles in the past.
Asked why he prefers the 400-metre hurdles as opposed to the 110, Ralph said: "The 110 is hard. It's not long enough and you find yourself overstriding to make the jumps. In the 400, there's lots more space to get your strides in and jump properly."
His hurdling days are long past, but Ralph has happily recovered from the joint problems that kept him on the sidelines the last couple of years.
"Your times and distances drop off every year," said Ralph. "I'm just trying to keep fit and have some fun at the same time."
That's also what his wife Joelanne says when asked about her prolific badminton career.
"I play badminton about three times a week," said Joelanne, who can often be found at the Bonsor Seniors Centre honing her skills. "It's all about fun for me, now."
Joelanne admits to being a singles champion in the not too-distant past, but now she prefers the doubles and mixed doubles competition.
"Singles becomes a lot harder the older you get," she said. "And I have so much fun with my doubles and mixed doubles partners."
Asked if she ever thought about joining Ralph on the track, Joelanne can't help but laugh.
"I'm not a runner," she said. "I picked up badminton at a young age and I don't really think I've ever played anything else. What I really like about it now is I'm meeting a lot of people, I'm having fun, which is definitely the number 1 thing for me and while it's nice to do well, I'm not big on the medals any more. I've won a whole bunch and they don't do much but sit in a box."
Both Ralph and Joelanne will be among the approximately 3,800 seniors athletes who will take part in 26 different events in Burnaby from Aug. 22 to 25.
As one of the largest participatory events in the province, it's an economic boon to the city and proof that grey power is alive and well.
For more information on the Games or how you can volunteer to help out, go to
www.bcseniorsgames.org.
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