Story, background, results, organization, and vision courtesy of Phil White. Photos courtesy of Kathleene Marcil.
Lake Memphremagog hosted over 200 swimmers and kayakers at the 18th Annual Kingdom Swim under sunny skies with light winds, and water temperatures between 21-23°C during the 25 km Border Buster.
25 km Border Buster
The top women dominated the 25 km Border Buster with the top four women beating the fastest man. In the 10-mile race, the top seven women beat the fastest man. In the 5 km race, the top two women beat the fastest man. Only in the 10 km and 1-mile races did men finish first overall.
The crème de la crème of the 25 km Border Buster was Sarah Thomas (44, USA, MSF bio here) in 7 hours 17 minutes. First among the men was Bill Shipp (66, USA, MSF bio here) in 9 hours 55 minutes. They were awarded a hand carved walking stick, a half pound of Brault’s Beef Jerky, and a quart of Vermont Pure Maple Syrup from Couture’s Maple Shop. Samantha Kraft (30, USA, MSF bio here) in 7 hours 29 minutes, Stephen Rouch (46, USA, MSF bio here) in 8 hours 7 minutes, and Meribeth Robertson (44, USA) in 8 hours 24 minutes rounded out the top 5.
It was fitting that Thomas won the Border Buster as White specifically established the Border Buster in 2014 as a victory lap for her celebratory return to Lake Memphremagog after her historic two-way crossing of Lake Memphremagog in 2013. Two years later, along with Elaine Kornbau Howley and Craig Lenning, she completed and established the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims (Loch Ness + Lake Memphremagog + Lake Tahoe). White said that Thomas is swimming stronger than ever at the age of 44.
Walking sticks were given to Sarah Thomas, Stephen Rouch (in the non-binary category), and Bill Shipp – photo by Darcie Rivard
Spencer Selby (28, Canada) completed the Border Buster in a wetsuit in 11 hours 45 minutes (see below) with Eddie May as his escort kayaker
10-mile Race
Samantha Scharf (31, USA) won the 10-mile race in 4 hours 51 minutes followed by Frederique Garnier-Johnston (45, USA) in 4 hours 57 minutes and Lisa Yamamoto, (33, USA, MSF bio here) in 5 hours 3 minutes. Greg O’Connor (57, USA, MSF bio here) won the men’s race in 6 hours 33 minutes followed by Jay Martin (59, of Epping NH (6:48:05). Scharf and O’Connor each won a hand carved walking stick, a half-pound of beef jerky, and a quart of Maple Syrup. Second and third place finishers also took home some beef jerky and maple syrup.
O’Connor’s history in Lake Memphremagog dates back to being the first competitor to register for the first Kingdom Swim in 2009. He was among the first four to complete In Search of Memphre in 2011. He was also one of the 41 pioneers at the first Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival in 2015. His volunteerism has also extended to piloting escort boats in the summer and volunteering at the Winter Swimming Festival.
Prizes
The prize for the most mature went to 74-year-old Mo Siegel. His polar opposite in the age category was 10-year-old Fiona Frazer. They both received a jug of maple syrup.
The prize for furthest travelled to the Kingdom Swim went to Felix Herron of Grenoble, France who traversed 5,864 to reach Lake Memphemagog. Close behind were Jackie and Collin Murray of Gosforth, England who traveled 4,853 km. Heron’s prize is a free kayak rental at our 2027 Kingdom Swim so he can take on the 5 km distance.
The two fastest growing teams at Kingdom Swim were the Queen City Swimmers, scallywagged by Nadine Ford, and the Harpswell and Bath Mainers, scallywaged by Karen Nazor.
The Last One Back to the Barn was 28-year-old Canadian Spencer Selby who finished the Border Buster in 11 hours 45 minutes, slowed by treading water while his kayak was righted and emptied of water. His determination to complete notwithstanding that setback is typical of the fist-in-the-face-of-the-fight so many in the Kingdom know so well.
Reunion
A reunion of 17 Swimmer Scouts at the 2026 Kingdom Swim included Elaine Kornbau Howley, Charlotte Brynn, Greg O’Connor, Sarah Thomas, Stephen Rouch, Margaret Rivard, Vera Rivard, Natalie Lang, Lourie Craigen, Bill Shipp, Nadine Bennett, Lisa Yamamoto, Benjamin Bryant, Bethany Bosch Oprendek, Susan Knight, Paula Yankauskas, and Austin Frazer.
Volunteers
The long list of Kingdom Swim volunteers included Susan Watson, Jack Watson, Jill Leary, Rob Andersen, Sybille Andersen, Jerry Stokes, Ken Kalinowski, Gary Coburn, Bonnie, Donna Dauphinais, Ginny Peck, Jeremy Smith, Martha Smith, Rick Ufford Chase, Zoe Blake, Karina Palmorino, Leigh Mastin, Michael Ouellette, Stuart Levasseur, Pam Levasseur, Robert Levasseur, Pam Levasseur, Washington White, Kathryn Nagle, Callie Willis, Bill Brown, Jess Booth, Maggie Pearson, Kristian Pearson. Peter Channell, Geneve Channell, Kathleene Marcil, Erica Flickinger, David Mitchel, Vera Rivard, Margaret Rivard, Nadine Bennet, Kit Kinne, Lisa Kinne, Austin Frazer, Fiona Frazer, Zoe Blake, Erica Flickinger, and David Mitchel.
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
World Open Water Swimming Federation, a human-powered project.