In Search of Memphré

6 Swimmers Set to Participate in the 4th Annual In Search of Memphre Swim on Sept. 6

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 23:15:00 +0000

Marathon Swimmers gear up for In Search of Memphre, on September 6^th, 2014 – a 25 mile international swim between Newport, VT and Magog, QC

LAKE MEMPHREMAGOG, VERMONT AND QUEBEC. August 27, 2014 - An accomplished group of six ultra-marathon open water swimmers have sets their sights on completing the 4th annual In Search of Memphre swim on September 6, 2014. Hailing from Solana Beach, Calif., Denver, Colo., Bel Air, Md., Hyde Park, Ver., New York City and Piermont, New York, this motley band of tough swimmers will traverse the 25-mile length of the lake between Newport, Ver., and Magog, Quebec while searching for the elusive and swimmer friendly lake creature, Memphre, and to promote a more open border between U.S. and Canada. The swim was launched in particularly difficult conditions in 2011, making this the fourth year that an expeditionary force of open water “swimmer scouts” has teamed up to join The Search.

We respect the hard work undertaken by border officials to protect us in the face of changing threats around the world. But we also want to do everything we can to promote a more open border for law abiding friends, family members, and neighbors. In addition to The Search, Kingdom Games hosts two bike rides across the border and around Lake Memphremagog in June and September. It organizes The Great Skate in February between Newport and Magog and partners with the Fondation Christian Vachon in the Relais du Lac Memphremagog, an 80-mile running race around the lake. This year, Kingdom Swim added a 15-mile “Border Buster” swim around Province Island. Swim the Kingdom Week in August includes a 9-mile swim the length of Lac Massawippi. “We love and hate the border,” says White. “We love the diversity and cultural differences so close by, and we have many, many Canadian friends. But we hate the fact that it is a barrier to so many who will never get a passport, enhanced license, or NEXUS card. Any chance we get to organize an event that crosses the border, we jump at. It brings us closer, and, we applaud our local border officials who have been terrific, working with us to facilitate crossings,” he says.

This year’s Memphre swim starts at midnight on the evening of September 5^th and continues through the day on Saturday, September 6^th, 2014. The group of hardy swimmers will swim with the wind, if possible, and make the final call as to the direction of the swim at 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Each of the past three years have involved extremely windy and challenging conditions during at least part of the swim. During the first three years of this swim, eleven swimmers have completed the crossing while nine have failed to finish because of the difficult and variable conditions. The full list of past finishers is below.

Swimmers are expected to comply with generally accepted channel crossing rules. They don’t use wetsuits or double caps (for warmth) and they can’t hang onto their escort boats. Each is accompanied by a pilot and one crew member in a16-foot aluminum escort boat with 9.5 horse power engine with a caged propeller, which are rented from La Traversee du Lac Memphremagog. This year’s expedition is also supported by three larger motorized patrol boats that will sweep the course to monitor safety and assist the swimmers and their crews as necessary.

THE SWIMMERS

Three of this year’s Swimmer Scouts have significant ultra-marathon open water experience.

Mo Siegel. (62, Piermont, NY) Mo Siegel has completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming (Catalina Channel, English Channel, around Manhattan Island) and is a member of the “Half Century Club” for finishing a solo crossing of the English Channel after age 50. He participated in the 2013 S.C.A.R. Swim Series in Arizona and became only the sixth person to complete the 20-mile cross-Cape Cod Bay Swim between Plymouth and Provincetown, Mass., which he finished in 2013. In his professional life, Mo is president of Ice Air, LLC and is a member of the board of directors of SwimFree, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to the health improvement of children and adults through swimming.

Graclyn van der Byl. (36, Solana Beach, CA) One of the speediest swimmers ever to set foot in Mighty Memphremagog, Grace van der Byl is the current Catalina Channel record holder (island to mainland, 7:27). She is also one of only three swimmers to have completed all seven stages of the annual 8 Bridges Hudson River stage swim, which she did in 2012. She won several stages of the 2013 S.C.A.R Swim Series in Arizona, and won the inaugural 15-mile Circumnavigation Challenge around Cape May, N.J. in 2013. She also won the 2014 around Manhattan Island Marathon Swim hosted by NYC Swim. She participated in a 228-mile relay swim along the California coast in August, 2013, with the Night Train Swimmers and is consistently ranked as an All-American and Top 10 swimmer in U.S. Masters Swimming pool competitions. She works as a swimming coach and instructor.

Craig Lenning. (35, Denver, CO) One of the most accomplished cold-water marathon swimmers in the sport today, Craig Lenning recently became only the third person in history to complete the arduous 30-mile crossing between the Farallon Islands and San Francisco. He has also completed five of the Ocean’s Seven swims—the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Channel, the Cook Strait, the English Channel, and the North Channel. He was the first American to successfully cross the North Channel when he completed that very cold swim in 2011. In 2013, he became the first male swimmer to complete a 44-mile double-crossing of Lake Tahoe, and in 2015, he will travel to Scotland to swim the 23-mile Loch Ness, hopefully becoming one of the first swimmers to complete the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims. He’s also a certified ice swimmer and participated in the 6-Day Bering Strait Relay, which won the 2013 Open Water Performance of the Year Award from the World Open Water Swimming Association. When he’s not swimming, Craig works in IT.

Three others are taking on the longest non-current-assisted challenge of their lives.

Paula Yankauskas. (60, Hyde Park, VT) Paula has been “on the stretch” for the past few years. A veteran Kingdom Swimmer in the 10-mile course, she signed on for all of NEKOWSA’s swims in 2013 and shed her wetsuit for the 10-mile WOWSA world championship. She was named NEKOWSA Swimmer of the Year for her extraordinary year. An Arizona S.C.A.R. swimmer in 2014, she came back to Vermont and did the 15-mile Border Buster without a wetsuit in preparation for this year’s Search. One of three swimmers to complete all of Swim the Kingdom Week’s 8 lakes and 45 miles in early August. Paula is a veterinarian by trade. She’s trained and ready for the biggest stretch of her life.

David Uprichard. (48, New York, NY) David outgrew his upbringing in the world of triathlons and became a serious marathon open water swimmer in 2011 when he completed the 6-mile course of Kingdom Swim in 3:16:35. That year he also completed two other 10K swims in New York Harbor and in Bermuda Around the Sound. He fell in love with the 5-mile Lake Willoughby race, which he has completed every year since 2011. He graduated to the 10-mile Kingdom Swim course in 2012. He’s a regular at the Little Red Lighthouse Swim hosted by NYC Swim. As for Paula, 2014 is the year of “the stretch” for David. On June 14^th, 2014, he completed the 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 8:17:20. He was an inaugural 15-mile Border Buster at this year’s Kingdom Swim. David is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was raised in England with a strong streak of Scottish ancestry. David is trained and ready for the toughest swim of his life.

Franco Prezioso. (48, Bel Air, MD) Franco turned from the golf course to the water course in 2008 and has never looked back. Way overweight at the time, swimming has had a huge impact on his life, his health, and his outlook. His swim coach, Kevin Jaubert, is a “lifer” at Kingdom Swim, having participated in the event every year since 2009. He introduced Franco to the 10-mile course. In 2013 Franco did the 27-mile END-WET swim in North Dakota and completed the 15-mile “Border Buster” Swim at Kingdom Swim this year. “He’s unflappable,” says coach Jaubert. The 25-mile Search will be the longest non-current-assisted swim of Franco’s life.

ABOUT MEMPHREMAGOG

Lake Memphremagog has been identified as one of the 50 greatest open water swimming venues in all of the Americas by the Daily News of Open Water Swimming. Open Water Source has selected In Search of Memphre, The Willoughby Swim, and Kingdom Swim as three of the top 100 open water swims in the United States. In Search of Memphre is now one of the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims, that includes Lake Tahoe, Memphremagog, and Loch Ness.

IN SEARCH OF MEMPHRE RESULTS

The swimmers who have successfully completed In Search of Memphre in previous years are:

2011

Liz Fry

Charlotte Brynn

Greg O’Connor

Elaine Kornbau Howley

2012

David Dammerman

Bill Shipp

Jen Dutton

Lori Carena

Aurora Louise

2013

Sarah Thomas (first ever double crossing)

Bethany Bosch

For more info about the swim or for contact info for particular swimmers, contact Phil White at: phw1948@gmail.com

Here are some of the better pics from the past two years.

2013:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103472222275138517285/MemphreHighRes#slideshow/5921296576779884914

2012: https://picasaweb.google.com/103472222275138517285/InSearchOfMemphre2012Select#slideshow/5786751243492632370

Bethany Bosch on VPR

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Gosh, we just love Vermont Public Radio. Not only because they're awesome, but because they took the time to speak with our very own Bethany Bosch about her shining accomplishment this weekend during the In Search of Memphre swim.

Take a listen.

Bethany is just such a classy lady. We are proud of her and pleased that she's getting some much deserved attention. Thanks to VPR and to Bethany for being such great sports.

Two Swimmers Complete Crossings of Lake Memphremagog

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 01:25:00 +0000

Barbara Malloy, Sarah Thomas, Bob Fernald, Humphrey Bohan, and
Phil White mug for the camera the night before the search

Sarah Thomas, 31 of Conifer, CO, stepped into the water in Magog, Quebec at 12:22 pm on Friday, September 6, 2013, facing 20+ MPH winds and waves coming directly at her from the south west. Sarah was attempting to be the first person to complete an international 50-mile double crossing of Lake Memphremagog between Magog, Quebec and Newport, Vermont. She was participating as part of the Third Annual, In Search of Memphre with the plan to join up at midnight with three other ultra marathon swimmers attempting a 25-mile one way crossing, from Newport to Magog - Humphrey Bohan, 38 of Medford Lakes, NJ, Bob Fernald, 46, of North Hampton, NH, and Bethany Bosch, 29, of Wallingford, VT, who would all be departing from Newport VT at midnight and swimming throughout the night and day of September 7^th.

Prior to Thomas' start, the weather forecast had called for light and favorable winds from the north for the first leg of the swim. But that's not what she got. Rather, she found wavy conditions and a 20+ mph headwind for much of the first leg of the swim. But, Thomas didn't flinch. Over the course of the next 30 hours, Memphre threw some serious surprises in there for all the competitors, with windy and wavy condtions throughout most of the swim. Sarah just ate her [Memphre, the monster, metaphorically speaking, or course] alive, one powerful stroke after another and triumphed. So did Swimmer Scout Bethany Bosch, who completed her 25-mile one-way swim under windy condtions. Epic and historic swims, both. Humphrey Bohan and Bob Fernald were valiant in the face of these wily and unpredicted conditions before they were forced to pull with injuries, a stabbing pain in the shoulder for Bohan, and a misaligned rib for Fernald. Both deeply painful injuries that these brave swimmer scouts were smart to pay attention to.

Bethany Bosch, Bob Fernald, and Humphrey Bohan
prepare to start their swim shortly before midnight

Thomas’s swim came right on the heels of her successful 44-mile crossing of Lake Tahoe earlier this summer. Bosch is known for her swimming buddy, 3-year old chocolate lab, Guri Bosch, who was the first dog to make the 5-mile swim the length of Lake Willoughby also earlier this summer. It's been an amazing season in the Kingdom.

Some wonderful cooperation from the folks in Magog and Newport and the border officials on both sides of the border made this swim possible. The In Search of Memphre organizing committee would like to thank everyone involved for their enthusiastic support of this international swim.

And to the 22 pilots and crew members who were out on the lake supporting these inspiring swimmers-- huge, huge thanks for the support that made this possible.

Sarah Thomas enters the water in Magog, QC to start her historic double crossing of Lake Memphremagog

The official times:

Sarah Thomas

Leg 1

15:09 Magog to Newport

6 minutes out of the water in Newport (just long enough to reapply sunscreen and snarf down a big handful of baby carrots)

Leg 2

14:46 Newport to Magog.

Total time start to finish 30:01

Thomas triumphant after 30 hours in the water.

Bethany Bosch

17:11 Magog to Newport

Bosch finishes with a broad smile after more than 17 hours in the lake.

In Search of Memphre is made possible by the underwriting of Jay Peak Resort and North Country Hospital and the sponsorship of The Passumpsic Savings Bank, Northeast Delta Dental, Community Financial Services Group, Town of Derby, City of Newport, Derby Village Store, Wilson & White, PC, and is part of 25 days of running, biking, swimming, triathlon, and kayaking organized as part of Kingdom Summer Games.

Special Thanks to Barbara Malloy, Vermont’s First Lady Dracontologist, for her support of In Search of Memphre and for the many decades she has devoted to collecting and archiving over 175 sightings of our famous and friendly lake beast.

Congratulations to all four of this year’s swimmers for joining the legendary ranks of Swimmer Scouts and laying down some epic and historic swims. The Search continues.

Phil White, Director

Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association

Bizarro Borders

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 03:05:00 +0000

In addition to being a somewhat bizarro event that traverses 25 miles in search of a (possibly mythical) lake creature, the In Search of Memphre event is aimed at increasing peaceful and fun relations between the U.S. and Canada, which share a border that slices across Lake Memphremagog about five miles north of Newport, Vermont.

Crossing international borders (via lake in the middle of the night, no less) can be a bit of a dicey proposition, but thankfully, we've had a ton of support from the local customs and passport offices in the area on both the Canadian and American sides of the border. Seems like the nice folks who enforce the rules about the borders think our little adventure is interesting, and lucky for us they want to help. (Even if they might secretly think we're nuts. 'Cause let's be honest, we sort of are.)

In any event, this video about our "Bizarre Border" with Canada surfaced today among the organizing and volunteer group working on the Search, and it's just too interesting not to repost. Who knew there was so much to this border?

All Swimmer Scouts are henceforth encouraged to find the border line in the lake. Could be tough in the pitch-dark of night, but then, it'll just help hone your eyes to look for the creature.

Sarah Thomas Aims to be a Dirty Double-Crosser!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 16:54:00 +0000

That double-crossing Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas, 31, of Conifer, CO will attempt a 50-mile Double Cross of Lake Memphremagog during this year's In Search of Memphre

Sarah Thomas during her historic

44-mile double-cross of Lake Tahoe.

Derby, VT - The Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association is pleased to announce that Sarah Thomas, 31, of Conifer, CO, has decided to attempt a 50-mile double crossing of Lake Memphremagog on September 6 and 7, 2013, wind and weather conditions permitting.

Sarah will be swimming as part of NEKOWSA's Third Annual In Search of Memphre, with three other swimmers who are attempting the 25-mile, single international crossing of the lake between Newport, VT and Magog, QC: Bethany Bosch, 29, of Wallingford, VT, Bob Fernald, 46, of North Hampton, NH, and Humphrey Bohan, 38, of Medford Lakes, NJ.

Sarah made open water swimming history earlier this summer when she became the first person to double-cross Lake Tahoe (44 miles). Craig Lenning, who swam with her on that double crossing, came in shortly behind her. Last year, Ray Gandy attempted to be the first person to double-cross Memphremagog but was hit with a spot thunderstorm at mile 46 as he was nearing completion.

Sarah will leave from either Newport or Magog around noon on Friday, September 6. If she is successful in the first leg, she will meet up with the three other Swimmer Scouts around midnight and join them during their attempt to cross the lake.

In the escort boat supporting Sarah will be Ryan Willis, also of Conifer, CO, and Bill Shipp of Mitchellville, MD, who swam In Search of Memphre in 2011 and 2012.

In Search of Memphre was started on the 10^th anniversary weekend of 9/11 by Phil White and Elaine Kornbau Howley of Waltham, MA. The purpose of the swim was and remains: To support a more open border with Canada, to search for our legendary lake creature, Memphre, and to support charitable causes.

Phil White, Director of NEKOWSA had this to say:

"During this year of open water swimming in The Kingdom, we have been blessed with many particularly poignant moments at both ends of the long-distance swimming spectrum. Supporting Sandy Alton and Tina Carrier as they began their open water swimming journey in earnest with their very first swims, watching the young gun, Eric Nilsson, smash the 10-mile record at Kingdom Swim, seeing the look on 58-year-old Paula Yankauskas's face as she finished the WOWSA 10-mile World Championship sans wetsuit to claim her place as a World Champion in her age group, to name just a few. Being part of this year's Search is one of those moments. Each and every one of these Swimmer Scouts is stretching themselves, swimming distances they have not swum before. With Sarah's decision to attempt 50 miles, it all just got even better."

The swim and the search are conducted with the support of Barbara Malloy, Vermont's First Lady Dracontologist. White and NEKOWSA thanked her for her support and noted, "we applaud the decades of hard and diligent work of Barbara Malloy in documenting all of the many sightings of Memphre." For more on Memphre, click here.

Special thanks to Jay Peak Resort and North Country Hospital, major underwriting sponsors of this swim and the entire Kingdom Summer Games 2013 season, which includes 25 days of running, biking, swimming, triathlon, and kayaking in The Kingdom. Other sponsors of the series include:

Any donations in support of individual swimmers received after July 1, 2013 and before September 7, 2013, will be donated to North Country Hospital's Patient Care Initiative Fund. So far, Kingdom Swimmers have raised $1,850 to support the fund.

For more information about the swim and the fund, go to www.insearchofmemphre.com

Or contact Phil White at phil@wilsonwhite.com.

Countdown to Memphre 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:03:00 +0000

T-minus 10 days and counting...

And on this day, we had some news from our other favourite lake monster across the pond, Nessie.

More locally, Abby (the beast of Aberwystwyth who's on permanent vacation in Waltham 'cause all the sea serpents and lake creatures like to chillax in Eastern Mass) is anxiously awaiting a rendezvous with Memphre in a little over a week's time. Think Pinky will let her on the same boat? Time will tell...

2013 Swimmer Scouts Announced!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 16:38:00 +0000

In Search of Memphre III

September 7, 2013

To support their fellow Swimmer Scouts
To search for our elusive and beloved lake creature, Memphre
To serve as ambassadors of peace in the promotion of a more open border
To support charitable causes

Lake Memphremagog, VT – The Northeast Kingdom Open water Swimming Association (NEKOWSA) is very pleased to introduce our expeditionary force of Swimmer Scouts of 2013. Each and every one of them is an accomplished marathon open water swimmer. But, they are more than that. Each brings something special to The Search. We welcome them as they embark on this journey In Search of Memphre. We love their stories involving their personal discovery of open water swimming and their support of good charitable purposes.

Sarah Thomas, 31, from Conifer, Colorado

Sarah is a triple crown marathon swimmer, having swum around Manhattan Island, and crossed the English and Catalina Channels. Most recently she became the first person ever to “double cross” Lake Tahoe, a swim that totaled 44 miles. Describing herself, she says:

"I’ve been a competitive swimmer since I was 7, but I was never all that fast- just really good at swimming for a long time without getting tired. When I first discovered open water swimming in 2007, it was like finding where I belonged in the world. Finally, there was a place where my ability to just keep swimming was actually good for something. Open water swimming is what I love to do- it makes me happy. The Catalina Channel in 2010 was my first realization that I can do more things than I ever dreamed, and it’s been an amazing journey since then. Through swimming, I’ve met some incredible people and discovered parts of myself I never knew existed. I feel blessed every day to be able to do what I do."

Sarah’s escort crew is Ryan Willis, also of Conifer, CO, and Bill Shipp of Mitchellville, MD. Shipp is a finisher of the 2012 Search, staunch supporter of open water swimming in the Kingdom, a proud member of the Crabby Nation in Maryland, and a dyed-in-the-wool Guinness drinker. Sarah works in Human Relations for HealthSouth, a rehabilitation hospital in Colorado.

Humphrey Bohan, 38, from Medford Lakes, NJ

Humphrey “discovered” open water swimming in 2006 with a “splash and dash” at a local state park. Since then he has successfully completed The Little Red Light House Swim (5.85 miles) in 2009 and 2010, The Boston Light Swim (8 miles) in 2009, and The Ederle Swim (17.5 miles) in 2012 This 25 mile swim will be the longest open water swim of his life. In his words:

"I have committed to moving from regular open-water swimming into marathon swimming. My resources are somewhat limited right now, so I have been focusing on swimming opportunities in the US, although I plan to do the English Channel within the next 4 years. In looking at the 10-mile Kingdom Swim, I saw the description of In Search of Memphre and am excited to swim it. It looks like a fantastic personal challenge, a breathtakingly beautiful course (no offense to the Hudson River or Jersey shore!), and a great charitable opportunity as well.

"I was a competitive pool swimmer for most of my childhood, competing in longer and longer distances until finally competing in the 1650 free and 400 IM at YMCA Nationals. After college, I started doing some Masters swim meets as an excuse to stay in shape, but didn’t have the same enthusiasm about pool races that I had had as an age-group swimmer. Then, in 2006, the state park near me had some informal splash-n-dash races (1/2 mile lake swim, 5K run) that I tried, and I followed that up with my first 1-mile ocean swim later that summer. I was shocked at how well I did, and how much more I enjoyed swimming out of a pool. So for a couple of years I did more splash-n-dash races, until finding out about NYC Swim and entering the Little Red Lighthouse 10K in 2009. Training for that (the first time I had ever really trained in open water), and then swimming that race up the Hudson River and under the George Washington Bridge, inspired me. I had finally found what I wanted to do athletically.

"So beginning the following summer, in 2010, I started entering every open water race I could, and looking for longer and longer distances. I moved from 5Ks, to 10Ks, to Boston Light, and then to Ederle. And now, I’m excited to go from those swims into a whole new territory of swimming, of doing more extreme distances and really pushing myself to another level."

Humphrey’s escort crew will be of Don Houghton of Craftsbury, VT and Gary Golden, of Colchester, VT. Humphrey works as a Systems Engineer at Lockhead Martin in Moorestown, NJ.

Bethany Bosch, 29, of Wallingford, VT

Bethany is a veteran 10 mile Kingdom Swimmer participating not only in 2011 but also 2012. She raised over $1,000 for IROC and was one of the high fundraisers in 2011, raising even more in 2012. She crewed for last year’s Search, and has been to two sessions of Ned Denison’s Long Distance Swim Camp in Cork, Ireland. Recently, her swimming partner, 3-year-old chocolate lab, Guri Bosch made history with her 5 mile end-to-end swim of Lake Willoughby on August 17^th. This will be Bethany’s longest marathon open water swim.

"Of all of the places in the world that one could swim, it is both inspiring and wonderful to have such a beautiful, long distance swim right in your backyard. Being a part of this swim, that does so much to benefit the people of Vermont, would be both a privilege and an honor.

"I want my life, everything I do, to make a difference in this world – to have an impact and purpose beyond myself. Of all of the things I have tried and all of the accomplishments I’ve attained, swimming is the one thing I have found where making a difference in people’s lives through the funds I raise and doing something extraordinary is easy and seamless. Swimming is always an adventure; but the best part of it is that no matter the conditions or outcome, good has been done. That’s what makes every swim so incredibly worthwhile."

Bethany’s escort crew consists Natalie Boyle of Rutland and David Dammerman of Saratoga Springs, NY (who is a veteran Kingdom Swimmer himself and the fastest Swimmer Scout in The Search last year. Bethany works for a consulting firm that provides construction inspection for AOT.

Robert Fernald, 46, of North Hampton, NH

Robert has completed a number of marathon swims in recent years, including Boston Light (8 miles) in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and Kingdom Swim (10 miles) in 2011 and 2012. He has been training this summer with longer swims, but the Search will be the longest of his career.

"What draws me to Memphre, and the events is the stories and people behind the event and history. Swimmers way up that far north? It is great. It takes a special kind of people to hold events like you do, for the benefit of others.

"As my swimming came along with endurance distances, goals came to mind. I framed them initially as “between things.” Between island and mainland, between islands and between countries is on the list. When I swam Kingdom Swim in 2011, I had a good swim. I felt strong, like I had more.

"During the Kingdom Swim, I kept present in my stroke, and since the surface weather/conditions were less than exciting, I thought about Memphe and I started looking for her. I was thinking what if… then, every shadow and blade of grass was a part of the legend. Then the race was over. So I would like a longer time to look!

"As far as my swimming is concerned, this event will help me go beyond my next limit. I have plans of other longer swims around the world, but Lake Memphre is just a few hours away.

"I have always liked to give back (good parents), especially with my time. Self-sacrificing some would say. I coached approximately 1,000 marathon runners as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program for about 8 years in the late 90s and 2000s. Since then, I've contributed a lot of event-level volunteerism as race support or race director for a few local charities.

"I am part of the board of directors of Save the Indoor Portsmouth Pool here in Ports, NH. The short story is that the city was going to close our pool due to budget cuts. In true NH fashion, a few of us grabbed our sickles and torches and marched on to the city council meetings. We were able to convince the city to try a new operating plan that lost less money. We agreed to mutual goals for cost reduction and price increases. In the end, the program was a success. The city of Portsmouth gave us a no-cost five-year lease, and we are in the process of raising capital to improve the facility.

"My interest in swimming and with saving the pool led to a volunteer role as an open water swim coach with the local pool. The program geared specifically for open water swimmers, and 45 people signed up in January. We still hold a 90% attendance rate and have a growing population of triathletes and open water swimmers in the area."

Robert’s escort crew will be Karil Reibold of North Hampton, NH and John MacMahon of Exeter, NH, with an alternate, James Fernald of Portsmouth, NH. Robert runs a Customer Experience support operation for Whaleback Managed Services in New Hampshire.

* * *

Each swimmer is accompanied by a 16.5 ft aluminum boat powered by a 9.5 hp motor with a caged propeller. These boats are rented from La Traversee in Magog, QC. Swimmers are provided with transponders so that their progress can be followed by friends, family, and the general public.

Four larger power boats are also involved in support. They include Karen and Bruce Lippens of Derby piloting their own boat. They are Kingdom Swim veterans, volunteering to support the swim each year since it started in 2009. Alec van Zuiden, Mayor of Ayer’s Cliff, QC will be piloting a pontoon boat volunteered for service by Fran and Melanie Azur. Elaine Kornbau Howley, of Waltham, MA, a triple crown marathon swimmer who completed the 25 mile distance in 2011 will also be crewing as will Pamela Ladds, of Newport, who regularly escorts swimmers at our events. Rich Douglas will be piloting a pontoon boat supplied by Newport Marine Services. Phil White will be piloting his boat, Pinky, as central command, with assistance from Erica Sheckler, of Emmaus, PA and Kristian Pearson, of Derby, VT.

Swimmers depart at midnight from either Newport or Magog (depending on which way the wind is expected to blow). Depending on weather conditions and the natural swimming speed of individual swimmers completion times have varied from about 11 hours to 18 hours in the water.

The course from MacPherson Bay to Magog, the second half of the swim.
It's such a long lake, we need two pages to show all 25 miles of it.

The beginning of the course from Newport to MacPherson Bay, about 13 miles.

New Funds Recipient for 2013 In Search of Memphre

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 16:01:00 +0000

For those of you who had not yet heard, the IROC center that all funds from previous Kingdom Games events-- including the much beloved and storied In Search of Memphre ultra-marathon swim-- supported closed earlier this summer. Below is some information from Phil White, former Executive Director of the center on the sad day the center lost its fight against foreclosure and what comes next.

See, there's some good news here, too. Every ending brings a new beginning, and thus begins the collaboration between the Kingdom Swim, Run, and Triathlon events in Newport, Ver., and the North Country Hospital Patient Care Initiatives Fund.

With much regret and a deep sense of sadness, we receive some early words that our beloved community center has been purchased and that the new owner does not intend to continue its current use. Lots to say and feel, but I will say just this. Thank you to the thousands who joined the journey to try to save this precious asset. For myself, I know I am a better person for having fought this fight and for the friendships I have made along the way. Some causes are worth spilling blood for. I’d do it again, I would.

But, our community has many needs and today we turn our focus to support another local cause that supports local patients in need – The North Country Hospital Patient Care Initiatives Fund. We are a rural, economically challenged area. When patients discover that they have cancer and need treatment their travel expenses alone can be a huge barrier to treatment, even when they have insurance to cover the treatment itself. Patient Care provides gas cards to those in need. Drugs and supplies often come with high patient co-pays or are uncovered all together. Patient Care helps to provide payment for some of those costs for those unable to cover them.

Wendy Franklin, at NCH, fields the requests from nurses, patient care coordinators and social workers and helps allocate the scarce resources from the fund. In her words:

Just last Monday, I received a call from a nurse who was seeing a patient in our oncology clinic with just a few more trips needed in their course of treatment, and was unable to fill their gas tank to make the journey to Norris Cotton Cancer Center - North in St. Johnsbury. North Country Hospital’s Patient Care Initiatives Fund was able to assist due to our generous donors. Another cancer patient the same day was able to receive mastectomy supplies not covered by insurance with assistance from the fund.

Our providers know this fund can be a resource for patients who need gas cards for extensive travel. Even with a local dialysis center, the three times per week necessary for dialysis treatment creates the need for travel. Other ways the fund has been there to directly help patients is covering costly pharmaceutical co-pays, and/or the prescription itself. In many cases this has been the difference between a patient not moving forward with treatment and then being able to thanks to the cost being covered. For diabetic patients without insurance, the fund has assisted with meal planning tools, special dietary meal bars, and other necessary supplies. The fund also helps in the lease of wheel chairs, walkers, or the purchase of splints and compression stockings for patients without insurance.

All money raised by donations by our Kingdom Swimmers and Swimmer Scouts taking part in the In Search of Memphre event after July 1, 2013, will be given to NCH’s Patient Care Initiative Fund. 100%. And all of this money (100%) in turn will go directly to help local folks in need of just a little help as they face some daunting challenges. No administrative costs will be deducted. Nothing sent to distant shores. Just a helping hand to a neighbor in need. The Vermont way.

We don’t have much time between now and In Search of Memphre, but donations are still coming in and for that we are grateful.

Join the Search by Donating NOW!

Event photos

noreply@blogger.com (In Search of Memphre) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:34:00 +0000

Cameras were ready to capture any sign of Memphré and the adventures of the swimmer scouts and crews. It doesn't appear that Memphré made it into the photo album, but a closer examination might reveal something interesting. Take a look at the In Search of Memphré photo album for yourself.

9 miles to Magog (or maybe a little more)

Where does the time go?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:09:00 +0000

We're nearing one month since the finish of In Search of Memphre 2012, and it's high time more photos got posted! See below for a walk down memory lane. First three photos from Lori Carena.

Some great images and videos contributed by Bill Shipp

Celebrating after the fact

Preception vs. Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Bill Shipp, one of this year's finishers of In Search of Memphre who succeeded on his second attempt to best the beast, had this humorous visual take on his big swim last weekend:

What I felt like after finishing Memphre 2012…

What I actually looked like…

It's hard to look good while doing this sport, but Shipp, you looked fantastic the whole way through. Congrats on a great swim.

More pictures and post-swim fun to come, including an awesome video of Shipp braving 4-foot waves at mile 23. Come see us again tomorrow for more!

Memphre Conquered... but not without a fight!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:33:00 +0000

We'll have more details here shortly, but as for now, here are the results of Saturday's epic 25-mile international In Search of Memphre tour between Newport, Vermont and Magog, Quebec:

1) David Dammerman, 44 of Saratoga Springs, NY, 11:27
crew: Deborah Roberts and Robert Singer (Queensbury, NY)

2) Bill Shipp, 42, of Mitchelleville, MD, 12:38
crew: Alison Meehan (Elkton, MD) and Michael Goodison (Crofton, MD)

3) Lori Carena, 58 of Brooklyn, NY, 15:01
crew: Linda Carena (White Plains, NY) and Marjie Campbell (Annapolis, MD)

4) Jennifer Dutton, 43 of Wayland, MA, 15:06
crew: Dave Spencer (Grotton, VT) and Andy Dutton (Wayland, MA)

5) David Barra, 47 of High Falls, NY, 15:15
crew: Rondi Davies (New York, NY) and Chris Stevens (Annapolis, MD)

6) Aurora Gore, 29 of Libertyville, IL, 15:45
crew: Jean-Pierre Bordeleau (Chicago, IL) and Joshua Gore (McHenry, IL)

7) Liz Fry, 53 of Westport, CT, DNF
crew: Debra Masso (Fairfield, CT) and Dennie Swan-Scott (Warrensburg, NY)

Two waves of swimmers started at midnight and 1:00 am respectively and swam into daylight. Conditions were relatively smooth for the first several hours, but the wind picked up later in the morning and by the time the lead swimmers had reached mile 20, the lake was behaving like a heavy sea, with 4 foot waves and rough winds. Memphre herself seemed to be trying to prevent the swimmers from landing in Magog, but they persevered.

Congratulations to all the swimmers and crews stay tuned for more details soon!

Tracking The Scouts

noreply@blogger.com (In Search of Memphre) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:47:00 +0000

If all goes well, you will be able to track each swimmer scout and their crew at MyAthlete Live.

David Barra http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=049531

Lori Carena http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=256367

David Dammerman http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=257530

Jennifer Dutton http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=374947

Liz Fry http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=044649

Aurora Gore http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=264122

Bill Shipp http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=213616

Search to Begin Tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:10:00 +0000

The 2012 Search for Memphre swim is about to begin! In roughly 15 hours, all seven brave) swimmers will start their trek from one end of Lake Memphremagog to the other. It's a long way to go, and the chances of seeing the beast are many. Stay tuned for more information or follow along our Twitter feed during the swim: @SeekingMemphre. It's a lake so big, we need two pages for the course map.

Good luck to all the swimmers and crews as you make your last minute preparations for tonight's big adventure!

In Search of Memphre 2012 Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:53:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 4, 2012

Lake Memphremagog, Vermont and Quebec – This coming Friday night at midnight, seven accomplished marathon open water swimmers will begin an epic 25 mile international swim the length of Lake Memphremagog, between Magog Quebec and Newport, Vermont, In Search of Memphre. The swim is held on the weekend marking the 11^th anniversary of 9/11. The three main purposes of the swim are:

to promote a more open border with our Canadian friends and family members even as we support efforts to address terrorist activities,
to raise money for our financially challenged community sports, fitness, and recreation center – Indoor Recreation Orleans County (IROC), and its groundbreaking health and exercise programs for people suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, as well as cancer patients and survivors, and, of course,
to search for the elusive, legendary lake creature, Memphre,

So far, our “Swimmer Scouts” have raised over $12,000 in support of IROC with more on-line donations being received at http://www.irocvt.org/index.php?id=36

The swim is more of a friendly, supportive, team expedition, rather than a race. The seven Swimmer Scouts taking part in this year’s expedition are: Liz Fry, 53, of Westport, CT, David Dammerman, 43, Saratoga Springs, NY, Bill Shipp, 52, Mitchellville, MD, David Barra, 47,High Falls, NY, Aurora Gore, 29, Libertyville, IL, Lori Carena, 58, Brooklyn, NY, and Jennifer Dutton, 43, Wayland, MA.

Each swimmer will be supported by a crew of two who will be operating 16 foot aluminum guideboats with protected propellers, provided by La Traversee in Magog, QC. A fleet of six larger patrol boats will be led by Chris and Gail Steele of Killingworth, CT and Derby, VT.

Liz Fry, who was the first to finish last year’s swim in the face of vicious head winds and who holds the record for the oldest person to complete a double crossing of the English Channel, described last year’s swim as, “The most beautiful and joyful swim of my life.”

The Search is being conducted with the full support of Barbara Malloy, Vermont’s First Lady Dracontologist.

The event is hosted by IROC and the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association. The Organizing Committee consists of Phil White, of Derby, VT, Ned Denison, of Cork Ireland, Elaine Kornbau Howley, of Waltham, MA, Leslie Thomas of Swim_Art in San Francisco, CA, Liz Fry of Westport, CT, Greg O’Connor, of Nattick, MA, Peter Stuart, of Derby, VT, and Charlotte Brynn of Stowe, VT, and. In Search of Memphre is sanctioned by US Masters Swimming, which has selected next year’s Kingdom Swim to hold its 9+ Mile National Championship on July 6, 2013. It is part of IROC’s Kingdom Summer Games – a fast growing series of running, biking, swimming, triathlon, kayaking, and motorcycling events that are now drawing participants from 36 different states, five Canadian provinces, Mexico, Great Britain, and Mumbai, India.

The Kingdom Summer Games series is made possible by major sponsorships of Jay Peak Resort, Community National Bank, North Country Hospital, Vermont Highland Cattle Company, MVP, Swim_Art, The EastSide Restaurant, Louis Garneau, Paul Decelles Investment Planning, Hayes Ford, Northeast Delta Dental, Passumpsic Savings Bank, Kinney Drugs Foundation, Community Financial Services Group, SwimVacation, Wilkens Harley-Davidson, Jay Peak Area Chamber of Commerce, Lago Trattoria, XTERRA Wetsuits, United Motorcyclists of Vermont, Vermont Pie & Pasta Company, Cedarwood Resort, Clyde River Recreation, Newport Marine Services, and Montgomery’s Café.

“As IROC battles for financial survival, the support of these Swimmer Scouts and the donations they have raised is just HUGE,” said, Phil White, Executive Director of IROC and one of the founding members of NEKOWSA. “Every dollar raised makes a big difference. Every dollar raised is an inspiration to others. And, special thanks to Serge Laurendeau and the folks at La Traversee.”

For more information about the swim and the swimmers: www.insearchofmemphre.com or contact Phil White at swim@orleansrecreation.org (Hyperlinks to Open Water Pedia biographies of particular swimmers and members of the organizing committee are provided above. For pictures of last year’s swim: https://picasaweb.google.com/101050667741495678041/InSearchOfMemphre2011#slideshow/5651186597790248562

For more information about Memphre sightings: http://www.kingdomswim.org/memphre.php For more information about the History and Mystery of Lake Memphremagog http://www.kingdomswim.org/history-mystery.php

Meet the Swimmer Scouts!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Just days ahead of the 2nd Annual In Search of Memphre Tour, we'd like to introduce this year's field of swimmer scouts who have accepted the challenge to swim the 25-mile length of Lake Memphremagog while looking for the elusive Memphre. In no particular order, we are pleased to host the following intrepid swimmers this coming weekend:

William Shipp, 52, Mitchellville, MD

Bill lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. with his wife and two daughters. He is a relative novice to marathon open water swimming having completed the Kingdom Swim 10-mile event the last three years; the 4.4 mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim several times; and the Potomac River swim.

A traditional pool swimmer, Bill competed in age group swimming as a youth and swam for Herndon High School in Virginia. He attended George Washington University on a swimming scholarship and graduated in 1982. He then proceeded on to law school at GWU as well. After college, Bill took a several-year hiatus from the grind of swimming, and after a few failed starts, returned to swimming in earnest in his early 40s. Initially competing only in USMS pool competitions at the local and national level with the Terrapin Masters swim team, Bill thought that open water seemed like a strange and foreign pursuit. After becoming affiliated with the Arundel Breakfast Club in Annapolis, Maryland, Bill found the club’s love of open water infectious and eventually signed up for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. Since his first Bay swim, Bill has been hooked on open water swimming and has found the challenge of the open water and camaraderie among the fellow swimmers to be irresistible.

This will be Bill’s second attempt to complete the Memphre search. Bill was part of the scout team for last year’s swim but did not complete the full swim. A cancer survivor, Bill puts his swimming experience in the Kingdom in perspective this way:

“In the fall of 2010, everything changed for me. When one gets the news that you have cancer it is almost a surreal experience. One day I was enjoying my the results of my best indoor season as a masters swimmer and my first Kingdom 10 mile swim and the next moment I was a 50 year old guy with prostate cancer mapping out treatment options. My story is a happy one however, as we caught the cancer early and after surgery in January, 2011, I was on the path to full recovery. During my recovery, I discovered some organizations in my area that largely through volunteer efforts provide wellness and support services for cancer patients, survivors and their families. Having people simply extend a helping hand and providing encouragement as you let your body heal and you deal with the emotional stress of a serious medical condition is invaluable. There truly is no better calling than people caring for at risk folks in their community. It is what defines us as a community, as human beings. Through my experience as a receiver of cancer support services here in Maryland, I suddenly realized the incredible value of IROC and the Healthy Changes Initiative. People with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis or living with and hopefully recovering from serious illnesses such as cancer or heart disease are fighting every day to maintain their quality of life. Mostly they push on in anonymity with people in everyday life not even being aware of the struggle they are facing. Sometimes each of us needs a hand to help us fight on, to lift us up, to reinforce our value, to give us respite. You never know when or how you may be the one needing help. That is why having a program such as the Healthy Changes Initiative is so important. “

“For me it was incredibly important to have a goal to shoot for. The Kingdom Swim and the Search for Memphre provide a first class open water swimming opportunities for all participants. More importantly the events raise awareness and funds for an incredibly worthy cause. The IROC programs that provide health and wellness support for those in need are critically important. Those with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other potentially debilitating conditions need the comfort and helping hand of their family, friends, and community. With the support of IROC these people can take charge of their lives again and achieve their goals, whatever they may be.

“I am honored to be invited to swim in the search for Memphre but more importantly, I am honored to know folks like Phil White and the many volunteers that work so hard with IROC to serve the community.

When he is not swimming in chlorine or river water, Bill is managing partner in the law firm of O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore specializing in land use and zoning law

______________________________

Aurora Gore, 29, Libertyville, IL

Aurora Gore started her swim journey not in the normal way. Gores says " I never swam as kid on a swim team, high school, or even college. I took up marathon swimming three-and-a-half years ago. I remember just doing one lap in the pool at a time and taught myself to swim freestyle watching YouTube videos. I completed my first open water swim in 2009 and place third in my age group. I then when on to complete two other one-mile open water swims that year. I was hooked. I then set my sights on competing in 10k nationals. That was when I found my coach Craig Strong. He had extensive swim background coaching division one swimming for women’s college. He saw something in me that I didn’t see and was pushing me to swim the English Channel. I completed nationals and place second in my age group. That’s when things turned and I trusted in this crazy idea. So on Sep 23,2011, I completed my English Channel crossing in 14 hours, 10 minutes. Now my plans are to complete the Triple Crown with the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim and a Catalina Channel crossing. I feel very lucky to get to swim this 25-mile swim from Canada to Vermont, with such highly successful marathon swimmers. I plan to keep swimming and see where things take me. I now coach open water swim in my free time for my coach. This all feels like a dream. I never thought my life would take this turn. I am excited to see wear this goes the next few years."

_____________________________

Lori Carena, 58, Brooklyn, NY

I entered my first swim race at the age of five at the Castle Hill Beach Club in the Bronx, N.Y. By the next summer, I could put my head in the water and I was off. Due to my father's love of swimming and my mother's willingness to serve dinner at least two times on swim nights, I swam with my sister about four times a week with the Yonkers YWCA, until senior year in high school. I swam in college for NYU for four years, without working too hard, as I was also on the basketball and tennis teams. While I kept swimming 1-2 times per week, it was not until I turned 40, and my three sons were more independent, that I started to swim in the open water. My swimming practices and my longest swims have increased over time. I have done the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim as a solo, twice, but not at the same time, Ederle while it was still cold, the Rose Pitonoff 17-mile swim from 26th Street to the Coney Island Pier, which I won, and the Swim Across the Sound was on my to do list this year, but it was not to be because of adverse weather conditions. I have done the 10-mile Kingdom swim up here in the most beautiful lake (Memphremagog) where you can touch the sky, or so it seems. I hope to complete the 25-mile swim, In search of Memphre. It is a bit of a stretch but you don't know, if you don't try.

I currently work as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of New York. I am 58 years old and I hope to swim for the rest of my life, not necessarily all at once.

_____________________________

David Barra, 47, High Falls, NY

David Barra, 47 lives with his wife Clare in High Falls, NY. He grew up in Brooklyn, and worked his teenage summers as a lifeguard at Coney Island.

Barra has been competing in open water swimming events since 1998 and has focused on long distance for the past several years. In 2010 he completed 7 of the 30 “World Swimming Majors” events including the Maui Channel, the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (MIMS), the Catalina Channel, the Boston Light Swim, the English Channel, and the Ederle Swim.

In 2011, with co-director Rondi Davies, Barra introduced the first annual 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, a 120-mile/ 7-stage swim event (the longest in the world!). He attempted to be the first person to complete the swim but fell a couple of hundred yards short on stage 5… bested by the flood tide. With Rondi Davies and Coney Island Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS) he brought a 5k swim race to the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie with the 2 Bridges Swim, and will host a USMS 10k National Championship event in 2014.

In 2012 Barra started his open water season in Arizona. On May 4-6, he and training partner Janet Harris joined the first two legs of the SCAR swim series and the fourth leg of the 6-lake challenge completing 3 consecutive days of 9-10 mile swims. He swam stages 3 and 5 of 8 Bridges on June 27 and 30, La Traversee du Lac St Jean solo on July 21, Vidosternsimmet 21K on August 4, and Plymouth to Provincetown (once again with Janet Harris) on August 21. On September 8 , Memphre will be his third swim in 8 weeks equal to or greater than 20 miles.

Barra has been a participating coach/guide for Total Immersion’s open water swim camps in the Bahamas, Hawaii, and St John since 2006, and has recently joined SwimVacation as a guide. His newest business: Swimmer Safety Services was established to provide guiding with a highly visible escort for solo swimmers and to provide logistical support for swim events.

___________________________

Liz Fry, 53, Westport, CT

The most accomplished swimmer scout in the group, Liz Fry is something of a legend in open water swimming circles. The five-time solo crossing veteran of the English Channel achieved a major pinnacle of open water swimming earlier this summer by completing a grueling 24-hour double crossing of the English Channel. She undertook this amazing swim in the same season as her historic “Double Ederle,” a first-ever round trip swim between Sandy Hook, NJ and New York, NY. Liz also holds the record for the fastest clockwise circumnavigation of Manhattan Island—a battering swim going against the swift currents of the East, Harlem, and Hudson Rivers that she completed in 2010. A Catalina Crossing in 2005 puts her on the list of Triple Crown achievers, and some of her other off-the-beaten track swims have ensured her good standing in the annals of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame’s extensive record books.

This open water distance powerhouse is also the director of the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation’s Swim Across the Sound, a premier, 25K-long open water event that sees upwards of 100 swimmers crossing the treacherous expanse of Long Island Sound every summer.

___________________________________________

David Dammerman, 43, Saratoga Springs, NY

Swimming changed for David the day he pulled through the water and actually moved somewhere. So began long summer days at the Y and winter evenings at nearly every pool in Connecticut. David swam competitively through high school at Fairfield Prep and at Hamilton College. Ending a half-hearted attempt to continue swimming after college with US Masters, David steered clear of the pool for a number of years.

After moving to Saratoga Springs, NY three years ago, David found a group of early morning swimmers who gave him the boost he needed to come back to the pool regularly. When spring came, they introduced him to the open water, and he was hooked on longer distances and lower temperatures.

David swims with Adirondack Masters and directs the annual Betsy Owens Memorial One- and Two-mile Swim event in Lake Placid and helped develop a program to introduce young swimmers to the pleasures of open water swimming. He won the 10-mile Kingdom swim event in 2011.

In his professional life, David manages Great Mountain Investment Associates, an investment company focused on real estate transactions other private investment opportunities.

________________________________

Jennifer Dutton, 43, Wayland, MA

Jennifer Dutton is a local swimming icon in MetroWest Boston. Nearly every swimmer you speak with from club team 8-and-unders on up to 60-plus-year-old Masters swimmers have either been coached by her or inspired by her perseverance in a sport that doesn’t always love her back.

Jen says she had an “unremarkable” high school swimming career in Connecticut, but planned to swim at college. But during her freshman orientation, she sustained a brain injury and struggled with everything at college. She dropped swimming for good, she thought, but managed to complete her degree.

However, the siren pull of the water brought her to Candlewood Lake in 1986, where she completed a 10-mile swim for “purely social reasons.” A few years later, she decided to give ocean swimming a go and completed the Boston Light Swim seven times between 1993 and 2004. Her 1997 BLS swim was most memorable because she was pregnant at the time. “I didn’t know I was pregnant when I started the swim, but figured it out as I went along,” she says. She returned in 1998 while still breastfeeding and competed again right after the birth of her second child in 2000. “The Boston Light Swim will always will have a special place in my heart because I have done it so many times,” Jen says. “It was different each time and it marked many events in my life.”

Jen has also completed the 10-mile Kingdom Swim twice, in 2009 and 2010, as well as a 17-mile swim in Lake George and a 15-miler in Morse Reservoir. She does all this while suffering severe sea sickness in virtually every swim she does, a residual effect of the brain injury she suffered as a teenager. Despite this uncomfortable situation, Jen still trains upwards of 24 miles per week and has conquered a range of health issues relating to both the brain injury and an underlying heart condition. “I swim to prove to myself that I can,” she says.

Jen has always wanted to swim the length of Lake Memphremagaog. “I have been putting a lot of training in for distance the last couple of years, and I am excited to do a long lake swim in the Northeast Kingdom, which has been a part of my life as long as I can remember.” Her parents now live in the Northeast Kingdom.

Water Skiing with Memphre?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Lio by Mark Tatulli

Could one of our lucky swimmer scouts secure a ride from Memphre herself? Stay tuned to find out during this year's In Search of Memphre tour scheduled for September 8, 2012.

The 2012 Search is ON!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:29:00 +0000

Gentle reader,
The Memphre sighting madness continues as we wind down the last several days before the 2012 Search for Memphre scheduled to begin on September 8th. Watch this space for more updates about the 2012 Search soon, including a listing of this year's swimmers and recent sighting information.

Keep those eyes peeled on the water and we'll see you out there...

Loch Ness People

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:36:00 +0000

Break of Day by Nate Fakes, Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Oh those scary Loch Ness People. Actually, it's people who made and continue to create lake monsters and other legends. Kind of a symbiotic relationship all around. As the ice begins to break up in Vermont, we wonder if Memprhe is starting to come out of hibernation.

Help Nate Meehan Get a Service Dog!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:01:00 +0000

In Search of Memphre veteran Alison Meehan's autistic son, Nate, needs a dog! Watch this great report from Baltimore's ABC affiliate about Nate Meehan's family's quest to raise money for a service dog to assist him. Visit http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com/for-donors/ to make a donation and put "Nate Meehan" in the reference line.

In Search of Memphre 2012, on TDNOOWS

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:51:00 +0000

http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/

In Search of Memphre Invites Swimmers

The Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association (NEKOWSA) is now accepting applications to participate in the In Search of Memphre.

The second-year event is a cross-border swim that requires its swimmers to traverse the entire length of Lake Memphremagog from Newport, Vermont (USA) to Magog, Quebec (Canada) on September 8th, 2012.

Only 20 qualified marathon swimmers will be accepted into the 25-mile amateur, invitation-only swim.

The cost of the swim is US$1,500 which includes an escort boat to accompany each swimmer. Swimmers are required to provide two crew members (each over the age of 18). The qualifications of each swimmer will be reviewed by a vetting committee headed by Ned Denison of Cork, Ireland.

Similar to its Swiss counterpart, International Self-Transcendence Marathon-Schwimmen in Lake Zürich, In Search of Memphre offers a significant, cold-water, freshwater marathon swim in North America. Its goals are to promote a more open border with our friends in Canada, to search for our legendary and elusive lake creature Memphré, and to raise money for the local community’s sports, fitness and recreation center and its special programs for people suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.

In 2011, 9 individual soloists swam in the face of fierce headwinds with four finishers:

1. Liz Fry: 13 hrs 25 min
2. Charlotte Brynn: 14 hrs 40 min
3. Greg O’Connor: 17 hrs 38 min
4. Elaine Kornbau Howley: 17 hrs 58 min

For more information or to submit an application, contact Phil White at swim@orleansrecreation.org or www.insearchofmemphre.com.

In Search of Memphre’s Organizing Committee includes Phil White of Derby, Vermont, Ned Denison of Cork, Ireland, Elaine Kornbau Howley of Waltham, Massachusetts, Leslie Thomas of San Fransisco, California, Liz Fry of Westport, Connecticut, Greg O’Connor of Natick, Massachusetts, Peter Stuart of Derby, Vermont and Charlotte Brynn of Stowe, Vermont.

The swim is hosted by NEKOWSA that promotes and supports open water swimming in the legendary lakes of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Other NEKOWSA swims include the Kingdom Swim, the Seymour Swim, and the Willoughby Swim. NEKOWSA is an affiliation of Indoor Recreation Orleans County.

Two Month Anniversary!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Today is the 2-month anniversary of the inaugural In Search of Memphre Tour! We have it on good authority that all the participants are fully recovered and back to their various training regimens and other typical shenanigans (you know who you are! Greg, I'm looking at you!).

But this can mean only one thing... a mere 10 months left until the next Search commences...

I wonder how Memphre survives the cold winter? Does he hibernate? Or burrow into the mud at the very bottom of the lake? Hmmm....

The Search Continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:20:00 +0000

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

We've mapped the length of the lake once, and now we know some of Memphre's secret hiding places. All the better to find her next year!

Ten swimmer scouts have set their sights on September 8, 2012 to continue their search for that elusive lake creature, Memphre.

New blood Davis Lee and Amanda Hunt have signed on to this invitational expedition. Veterans Elaine Howley, Bill Shipp, David Dammerman, Emma Otto-Moudry, Liz Fry, Alison Meehan, Shannon Kegan, and Jen Dutton have tossed their hats in the ring for a second jaunt.

If you support the mission, support a more open border, and support IROC as it struggles for survival in the Northeast Kingdom, please donate here, either in support of one of our swimmers on in general support of the expedition.

For photos of this past swim, click here

Wow, what a swim...windy conditions and cold air and water temps made for a very difficult traverse of Lake Memphremagog

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Howley) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:25:00 +0000

September 11, 2011

In Search of Memphre

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In Search of Memphre Breaks the border and Raises over $26,000 for IROC

Swimmer scouts from left to right: Bill Shipp, David Dammerman
Emma Otto-Moudry and Charlotte Brynn enter the water at the start
at midnight 9/10/11 to swim to Magog, Quebec.

Newport, Vermont and Magog, Quebec – On the weekend of the 10^th anniversary of 9/11, 11 extraordinary marathon open water swimmers undertook the 25 mile international, cross border swim the length of Lake Memphremegog from Newport to Magog. They were supported by 21 yackers and 12 boat pilots and crew. The expedition was organized and hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association and IROC and was sponsored and outfitted by Newport Marine Services, Clyde River Recreation, and Great Outdoors.

Swimmer Scouts O'Connor and Howley warm up in *very* stylish
gear in Magog 18 hours after starting the search for Memphre.

The expedition known as In Search of Memphre was intended to promote a more open border with Canada and to search for the elusive lake creature Memphre.

Participants, their friends, family, and employers raised over $26,000 for Indoor Recreation Orleans County, a community center in Derby, Vermont which is presently fighting for its financial survival. Four swimmers completed the swim: Elizabeth Fry of Westport, CT finished in a time of 13 hours and 25 minutes. Close behind her was Charlotte Brynn, of Stowe Vermont with a time of 14 hours and 40 minutes. Greg O’Connor completed the 25 miles in a time of 17 hours and 23 minutes. And Elaine Kornbau-Howley finished in just under 18 hours with a time of 17 hours and 58 minutes. “This was tougher than crossing the English Channel,” said Elaine Kornbau Howley who was the first to sign on for this invitational swim, just a month ago.

Magog and the regatta await the swimmers several hours away.

Swimmers faced strong headwinds from the north, especially during the first four hours of the swim, forcing many swimmers to pull out. All but one, however, hung in for at least the first five miles in order to assure that they crossed the border.

Charlotte Brynn swims at sunrise.

Michel Dubois, of Canadian Customs arranged with the organizers of In Search of Memphre for pre-clearance of the participants at The Gateway. They were very helpful and very supportive of the resumption of a cross border swim. US Customs received the participants back also at The Gateway.

The border was ours, for a brief moment in time. It felt great to watch these athletes, their yackers and the patrol boats cross past the border buoys in the middle of the night. Westmore Fire and Emergency Rescue led the way through the night with a beacon that allowed swimmers and their yackers to sight on as they swam north.

We were truly humbled and honored to support this wonderful, high spirited group of marathon swimmers, yackers, and support. Their fundraising prowess was awe inspiring. Their endurance in some tough conditions was incredible to experience. And their exhuberance is contagious.

Liz Fry finished first in less than 14 hours.

While Memphre remains elusive, we thank Barbara Malloy for her support of this swim, In Search of Memphre.

Great Outdoors Sponsors Memphré Search

noreply@blogger.com (In Search of Memphre) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:29:00 +0000

We are pleased that The Great Outdoors has signed on to The Search as our official outfitter. It's great to see support for the swim coming together. We hope you will join us in our thanks to The Great Outdoors by visiting one of their shops in Newport, Ensoburg Falls or Morrisville, VT.

Visit online at www.greatoutdoorsvermont.com for great information about camping gear, kayaks, canoes, shoes and more.

Thank you!