Over 60 people turned out to the Albion Hotel last week to celebrate the past year in running for the Victors. We socialized, drank, snacked, chatted, listened, and then applauded the winners of the various awards. We also heard a summary of the club’s new governance this past year, plans for next year, and a report on where the money comes from and where it goes. More on that below, but first, the award winners!
The 2017 sock (and also buff) awards
These are like our club’s “people’s choice” awards, with nominees generated by our members. The list is considered by a committee of three (Brad Morley, Luke Hohenadel, Mary Catherine Stewart), who also research accomplishments of Victors members in 2017 races. This year’s winners (L–R above) were: Shawn Gillan, Matt Evans, Jerry Greenfield, Tica Simmons, William Smith, Elizabeth Waywell, Robert Winckler, Kristen Cooper, Chris “200-mile” Duke, and Stacy McMillan. Also winning awards (but not in attendance), Tara MacDonald and Elizabeth Stewart. In attendance, but we goofed, and forgot to include him in the presentation (apologies!), Glen Reimer. They each won a pair of socks (or a Victors buff), as per tradition.
Four individuals win trophy awards
The four trophies we award each year go to particular individuals, again chosen by the three-person committee mentioned above. This year’s winners (L–R above):
- Vic Matthews Award: (for service to the club, named for our founder and namesake): Art Kilgour, who coordinated the new Victors Leadership Committee this past year, and also redesigned the Victors website
- Multi-sport Athlete of the Year: Angela Hofstra, a triathlete who competed successfully at the international level this year
- Usher Posluszny Award: (for outstanding performance, named for an early club leader who died just recently): Michelle Brady, for many race podiums and victories this year (both age group and outright), plus a big marathon PB
- Grit and Determination Award: David Brooks, for overcoming a potentially career-ending injury and getting through major surgery on his leg
Healthy membership and finances in 2017
The Victors Leadership Committee presented a summary of this year’s activities and finances to the assembled members. (That’s our money-keeper, Wendy Greenfield, above, counting admissions for the evening, which was a break-even event.) Here’s an abridged version:
- 122 members for the 2017 season (plus 38 registered for winter indoor workouts)
- 326 email subscribers
- 3 paid coaches, plus professional chip timing for 4 time trials
- 27 track workouts (summer), 11 track workouts (winter)
- 281 Facebook page members (closed group)
And here’s the financial summary, courtesy of Wendy:
- $9,520 raised through membership fees, plus garment sales (singlets and buffs)
- $7,442 spent on garments, coach’s honoraria, timing, insurance, and track rental so far
- another $1,599 in expenses expected through year-end (including U. of G. bursary, see below)
- a projected surplus of $477.78 on Dec. 31, 2017
For a copy of the full, two-page Victors activity and financial report, send an email here.
Guelph Victors provide bursary for U. of G. sprinter
No, that’s not the sprinter above! It’s Grant Campbell, the ultra runner who provided entertainment for us at the year-end party, playing a selection of Gordon Lightfoot tunes and finger-picking his brains out.
The Guelph Victors are providing a $500 bursary to Jenna Smith, a track athlete at the University of Guelph, as part of the Vic Matthews Scholarship. Jenna is a second year student on the varsity team who is majoring in Political Science. She enjoyed a great first year, making the final in the U Sports (Canadian University) 300 metres. This summer she made the National Junior team in the 400 running 54.77 and she ran a school record 38.92 for the 300 indoors. Jenna has excellent potential as an athlete and is a great student. We’re pleased to be helping with her education.
Finally, one last shot of four (plus one on the way) Victors, happy to be socializing in non-running attire! (All these great photos are courtesy of our member-runner-photographer Dean Palmer, who is now firmly on the comeback from injury. Thanks Dean, and welcome back!)
