Contributed by Charlotte Brynn, NE-LMSC Open Water Chair
LAKE MEMPHREMAGOG, NEWPORT, VERMONT - With a variety of distances to choose from, a sandy start and finish, and fresh water, Kingdom Swim 2016 was a perfect event for first timers and seasoned veterans. This year, New England swimmers flocked to the waters of Lake Memphremagog, and they were in good company; approximately 150 swimmers and about 140 kayakers participated. They travelled from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ireland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quebec. Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington State, and Wisconsin.
The weekend kicked off with a Pizza Cruise on the Northern Star, with motivational speaker Craig Dietz, 41, from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, also known as the Limbless Waterman. He delivered a powerful talk, and on Saturday, completed the longest swim of his life, the 10 km marathon course in a time of 4:12:35. Craig used a flipper attached to his left leg stump and undulated on his back.
After a terrific Pasta Dinner on Friday evening, swimmers were ready to take to the Lake. Kingdom Swim included the 15.9-mile (25 km) Border Buster, the USMS 10-mile Open Water National Championship, a non-championship wave of the 10-mile course, a 6.2-mile (10 km) race, as well as 3.1-mile (5 km) and 1-mile races.
For the first time this year, the event featured a pig roast in the evening. The event featured live music and a raffle to win entry to various swims, including Swim the Suck, Swim the Kingdom Week, and the Cork Distance Training Camp.
Big thanks to Bob Fernald, event referee, and Phil White of Kingdom Games and his volunteers who made this such a memorable event. The common thread in talking with swimmers post swim was, “I can’t wait to return to the North East Kingdom.” Congratulations to all those who swam, and enjoyed all that Open Water Swimming has to offer - good natured swimmers, beautiful scenery, and the camaraderie of enjoying the outdoors together, whether it be for competition or recreation. Top results can be found below, and full results are posted here. Additionally, registration is already open for 2017!
Border Buster - 15.9 Mile
Swimmers crossed the border into Canada and swam back to the USA. The overall course winner was Charlotte Brynn, 50, of Stowe, VT in 7 hours, 55 minutes, 46 seconds. Bill Shipp, 56, of Mitchellville, MD was second in a time of 8 hours, 18 minutes, 47 seconds. Ned Denison, 58, was third, finishing in 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 31 seconds.
NEW ENGLAND Female FINISHERS - SKIN
On the women's side, New England swimmers were a force, with 6 swimmers competing:
1. 7:55.46 Charlotte Brynn 50 Stowe VT
5. 9:19:06 Kellie Latimer 30 Norwood, MA
6. 9:21:10 Daniela Klaz 24 Jamaica Plain, MA
7. 9:21:10 Hillary Rodriguez 28 Jamaica Plain, MA
9. 9:45:06 Julie Burnett 50 Stoneham, MA
10. 10:36:54 Paula Yankauskas 61 Hyde Park, VT
NEW ENGLAND Male FINISHERS - SKIN
3. 9:03:10 Patrick McDermot 51 Salem, NH
4. 10:04:18 William Larkins 22 Freeport, ME
5. 10:42:19 Ian Grimmer 47 Middlebury, VT
10 Mile Non Championship – WetSuit
FEMALE
- 4:57:48 Gabi Redford 49 Annapolis, MD
- 5:08:33 Elaine Scholtz 54 Campton, NH
MALE
- 5:07:35 Herve Hamon 54 Norwalk, CT
- 6:01:31 Thomas Whalen 50 St. Louis, MO
6.2 Mile (10 km) - Skin
Female
- 2:32:25 Jen Olsen 45 Millis, MA
- 2:36:22 Alana Aubin 26 Watertown, MA
- 2:54:16 Katharine Owen 37 Arlington, MA
Male
- 2:14:39 Eric Nilsson 29 Weston, MA
- 2:30:03 Mark Loftis 56 New York, NY
- 2:31:25 Christopher Cowley 24 Brookline, MA
6.2 Mile (10 km) - Wetsuit
Female
- 3:08:47 Melissa Ossanna 47 Bar Harbor, ME
- 3:34:30 Tamara Takoudes 46 Needham, MA
- 3:48:17 Maria Beconi 53 Bedford, MA
Male
- 3:06:02 Michael McGurk 56 Sudbury, MA
3.1 MILE (5 km) - SKIN
Female
- 1:17:45 Merin Troutman 42 Mystic, CT
- 1:30:13 Emily Boerger 21 Kingston, MA
- 1:31:50 Hilary Sullivan 35 Roslindale, MA
Male
- 1:33:05 Lawton Harper 49 Center Conway, NH
- 1:34:36 David Bentley 48 Winchester, MA
- 1:39:36 George Boerger 55 Kingston, NY
3.1 Mile (5 km) - Wetsuit
Female
- 1:17:34 Laura Delorey 53 Westminster, MA
- 1:34:46 Francine Amyot 52 St-Romuald, QC
- 1:38:34 Kay Thomas 49 Duxbury, MA
Male
- 1:18:52 Bruce Mohl 70 Bonita Springs, FL
1 Mile - Skin
Female
- 0:23:54 Renee Reiser 49 Annapolis, MD
- 0:26:45 Julie Wolf 31 Hoboken, NJ
- 0:31:59 Jennifer Olaru 45 Dorset, VT
Male
- 0:23:38 Andrew Grannell 69 Annapolis, MD
- 0:27:01 Andre Cote 55 Lévis, QC
- 0:27:17 Matthew Marcy 48 Bluemont, VA