He claimed second for his V45 category in the 60m hurdles, plus both the long and high jump, in the British Masters Indoor Championships at Lee Valley.
The former decathlete had returned to serious athletics comparatively recently, hoping to chase a British V45 record in the long jump, but his ongoing niggles had other ideas.
‘Having my normal niggles, I had not done any long jump or high jump,’ he said.
‘I’d done two hurdles sessions, that was it.
‘I did not expect too much, but I wanted to go and have fun and that was the outcome – I’m very happy.’
There was no shame in losing the 60m hurdles to world age group record-holder Mensah Elliott, who ran his mark of 7.91sec. four years ago.
The remarkable Elliott won in 8.35 for his final year before becoming a V50, while the younger Garland followed a clear second in 9.17.
Similarly, the Sarnian’s foil in the high jump was British V45 record-holder Martin Lloyd, who dominated with 1.88m.
Garland secured second with 1.73m.
The long jump proved somewhat closer as Neil Barton took the win on 6.22m, with Garland 12cm down.
Regarding Elliott, he admitted: ‘No amount of training would have let me beat him.’
Yet Garland is hoping to continue to compete at this level and will not have the all-conquering hurdler in his group next year.
‘With him going up an age group, then that means a better chance for me, but I would like to have run a 200 or 400, which are my better events.
‘Next time, if I have done a bit more training, I will do a 400 or something like that.’
As for the long jump record bid, the British Masters Athletics Federation credit John Charlton as the record-holder both outdoors (6.54m) and indoors (6.40m).
At Guernsey 2023, Garland covered 6.68m, so the records appear to be within his reach.
‘I want to get back in that sort of shape and it gives me a chance to get the record.’
However, he has described the atmosphere of these masters competitions as ‘social and friendly’.
‘Most are there to enjoy and test themselves rather than seeing it as a competition against the other opponents.
‘It was just a lot of fun to compete again, so it’s something I’d like to do again.
‘You have athletes who are brand new to athletics and clearly taking part for the fun – and they might be racing the likes of Dwain Chambers.’
