The Cape Cod Athletic Club took over the Monomoy Room of Chatham Bars Inn on Saturday night to celebrate notable achievements of 2011, present the Winter Grand Prix awards, and have a good meal and some fine dancing.

As dining got underway, president Bob Eckerson welcomed the assembled, gave some introductory remarks and comments, and then presented the Hall Of Fame inductees for 2012: Bob Edwards, Bill Masterson, Bill Ferguson, Joe Weinberger and John Worgan.

After age group awards were presented for the Grand Prix, Katie McCully and Steven Sullivan were recognized for their top performances in collecting series points. Katie commanded the women’s bracket with 3648 points and for the men, it was Steve McKenna at the top with 3971 points. Each was awarded a decentive poster (click on their names above to see the beautiful posters they each received) intended to suppress any such repeat overachievement in the 2012-2013 series along with a goody from the merchandise queen. Top GP teams were awarded special hanging mementos and a chance to have a team picture – top teams were Happy Trails (Overall), Gecko (Mixed – after Happy Trails abdicated the slot by winning overall), and Cranberry Cruisers (Women). The following Iron Runners, Grand Prix’ers who completed every race, even the 19th Hole Fun-In-The-Snow run, were also recognized: Cathy Lohse, Mary Ellen Ross, Katie McCully, Mary Duchesney, Mary Carroll, Susan Eastman, Joanne Corsano, Mary Burkinshaw, Cheryl Ferguson, Jason McWhirter, Geof Newton, Galileo Bonfini, Paul Mellett, Howard Tansey, Scott Walker, Tom Tuttle, Rich Houston, Ken Lemerise, Tom Johnston, Bill Ferguson, Joe Weinberger, Larry Cole, and Rob Kadunc. Many thanks to our fabulous volunteers without whom we could not have put the Grand Prix together! [Full Grand Prix Standings]

Following the Grand Prix, Bob Eckerson, Geof Newton and Joe Weinberger presented the annual awards:

Special mentions were also made of Bill Riley’s 1:49:39 Mt. Washington course record that smashed the existing record by over 12 minutes and Bob Eckerson’s 100th marathon, consummated at the Cape Cod Marathon in October.

Runners of the Year awards were presented to Kathleen Thomas and Paul Hufnagel in recognition of their performances and involvement in club activities. In appreciation for their support of the club and their continuing dedication to the CCAC, Bob Edwards, Bill Masterson, Adam Ross and Tom and Pat Nally were presented with the Scotty Carter Volunteer Award and Cathy Lohse was recognized for all her hard work with a special Appreciation Award.

Finally, the Johnny Kelley award was presented to Andy Scherding who has tirelessly dedicated himself to the multisport activities of the club, integrating the Cape Cod Triathlon Team with the CCAC, coordinating seminars, training sessions, training camps, the Long Pond Triathlon series, and all that other stuff that goes on behind the scenes.

Then, all the runners got up and cut a little rug until midnight when the DJ, exhausted by the dancing of Cathy Lohse and Mary Ellen Ross, finally had to send up the white flag. Congratulations to all the award recipients and best to all for a PR-filled and hearty 2012!

> The Day After run will be hosted by Kevin Petrovek at Hanlon’s Shoes in Hyannis as his winter 10 miler on Sunday. If you don’t feel up to the full 10, there are many shorter alternatives so ask at the store for one of the short courses. Go time is 11AM and the store should be unlocked by 10:40. Don’t come at 10:00 or 9:00 unless you’re logging some extra miles before the race.

> !!! We need volunteers for the Hyannis Marathon races on the 26^th of February !!! Please contact Bob Eckerson, Joe Weinberger, or CCAC if you can assist. Primary duty is course marshal –

> We’ve established a new communications channel in the internet-o-sphere – in addition to syndicating our website updates to our Facebook page, we’re pushing updates, thoughts, quotes, and other important news to Twitter as @ccac76. Follow us!

> Andy Scherding has spun up a new Facebook group focused on multisport info: Cape Cod Triathlon: News & Discussion. It’s an open group at the moment and you can join at http://www.facebook.com/groups/231751820246786/.

> Check your Grand Prix results as soon as possible. We’re sincerely hoping that we’ve messed up some of the Happy Trails team members’ times (too fast) and that we recorded some of the Gecko times too slowly. Grand Prix awards will be handed out at the banquet so make sure you get your booty!

Run fast!

-> 2012 Banquet Flyer <-