The 2001 Annual Banquet (held in 2002, but honoring those winning "best of" awards for play in 2001) was held Saturday, 9 February 2002 at Mackey's Irish Pub in Washington D.C. There were about 88 folks present.
People started arriving about 6:30 - 7 PM, and WSRFC President Paul "Lumberjack" Jenkins announced the superlative awards at about 8:45. They are as follows:
President's Award: Pete "Rover" Murphy
Paul then called Coach Pete "Rover" Murphy up to announce the coaches' awards. After some fuss he consented to do this, gave a Guinness-soaked, gut-wrenching speech, then awarded coaches awards as follows:
Coaches' Award: Travis Tull
At about 9 PM, seeing that all and sundry were now thoroughly lubricated, I started the slide show. I said it would last about an hour; it lasted one hour and one minute. That's why they call me "Chronos."
Special congratulations to John "Iceman" Cooper, who was awarded with the Greg Gregory award for his work in NYC's Ground Zero! (You can read about it here.)
The banquet certainly appeared to be a success; there was certainly enough food! Our thanks go to Rover, who served as the banquet coordinator this year. A litmus test I always have is, did anyone attempt to charge me for a Coke? Didn't happen last night. Good work!
The few photos I took - I was preoccupied - are here.
The response to the slide show was quite gratifying - thank you. I thought it went well, despite some technical glitches (the cord dropping out of the mic, the mouse falling off the podium, advancing the slides, and that annoying buzz - not McClain - in the audio). Oh, well, "the perfect is the enemy of the possible," as I always tell other people. Many of you asked how to get the show in video or CD form. In my copious spare time I will investigate making a video production of it or trying to cram all the files onto one CD to sell as a fundraiser.
Having a rugby party in downtown D.C. was a change for us; we normally have them in Northern Virginia somewhere. One interesting result of this was driving home through a veritable swarm of, uh, working girls, readily identified as such by 1) Their habit of walking in the street, and 2) The highest, shortest skirts I have ever seen.
As Paul pointed out in the circle-up after practice earlier that day, the banquet marks the end of last season. Now it's spring season 2002. Time to forget earlier triumphs and work on creating some new ones.
Respectfully submitted,
Wes "Brigham" Clark
Best A Side Back: Jon "Shamrock" Murray
Best A Side Forward: "English" Dan Buckley
Best B Side Back: Matt "Wayne" Clark
Best B Side Forward: "Crazy" Eddie Harrington
Best C Side Back: Martin "Kiwi" Hill
Best C Side Forward: Anthony "Worf the Amishman" Adamovich
Most Valuable Player: Jon "Shamrock" Murray
Most Improved: Anthony "Worf the Amishman" Adamovich
Coaches' Award: Jim Cleary
Secretary, WSRFC