Last year I was the baal korei at an aufruf. The shul's policy was to allow two extra aliyos for a simcha, for a total of 9 + maftir.
The bride's grandfather z"l, a Kohen and Holocaust survivor in his nineties, was the first oleh. Because he had trouble standing, I suggested to the gabbai that we add the two extra aliyah breaks at the beginning of the parsha so that he could go sit down sooner. The gabbai responded that no, you're only allowed to add aliyah breaks at the end of the parsha.
I've never heard anything like this. Was he correct? Is there a source for what he said?
There was plenty of room in rishon to add aliyah breaks. The parsha also wasn't Mas'ei or Ki Tisa, where there are specific reasons to have a long rishon.
The grandfather passed away this week. This question is dedicated lezeicher nishmaso.