Vera Rivard, Charlotte Brynn Speedy In Willoughby
Story and photos courtesy of Phil White, Lake Willoughby, Vermont.
The Rivard Sisters – 13-year-old Vera and 10-year-old Margaret – continued to make a splash in Lake Willoughby during the Northeast Kingdom Swim Week.
Vera finished in a tie for first place overall in today’s 5-mile swim with 51-year-old Charlotte Brynn in 2 hours 21 minutes 16 seconds. Margaret finished third among the women with a time of 2 hours 28 minutes just ahead of 48-year-old Cynthia Werhane.
“Last year, at the age 9, Margaret became the youngest to swim the length of Lake Willoughby,” described Phil White. “Only two men competed without a wetsuit with 47-year-old Florin Rosca finishing first in 2 hours 42 minutes. Bob Singer came in second in 2 hours 58 minutes.
In addition to woodals, beef jerky, and Couture’s Maple syrup, male and female winners received a six pack of ski tickets at Burke Mountain.
The weather was cloudy, rainy and windy at the start, inviting many to don their wetsuits.
As he has done in every swim of the week, 56-year-old Kevin Sullivan finished first in the wetsuit division and first overall in 2 hours 4 minutes. Winning among wetsuited women was 45-year-old Eileen Hee who narrowly edged out 59-year-old Margaret Haskins in 2 hours 36 minutes 19 seconds to 2 hours 36 minutes 44 seconds.”
Five swimmers decided to a double crossing of Lake Willoughby including Brynn (4:59:59), Vera Rivard (5:05:32), Werhane (5:22:12) David Tutchener (4:56:54 with a wetsuit) and Cat Spina (6:06:06 with fins).
“There are only three other known double crossings of Lake Willoughby. In 2012, Shannon House Keegan, finished her 5-mile swim, had a hamburger and visited with friends, and then swam back the extra five miles. Last year, Janet Harris double crossed in misty, rainy conditions. This year, on June 28th, with the water in the mid to lower 60°F’s, Brynn double-crossed. The tricky part about double-crossings is that the return is against the wind and current which get compressed in under the cliffs.”
Females – Non-wetsuit Results:
1. Vera Rivard (13) 2:21:16
1. Charlotte Brynn (51) 2:21:16
3. Margaret Rivard (10) 2:28:29
4. Cynthia Werhane (48) 2:30:57
5. Natalie Lang (40) 2:37:09
6. Christina Lorenson (44) 2:56:09
7. Deborah Roberts (59) 2:58:02
Males – Non-wetsuit Results:
1. Florin Rosca (47) 2:41:00
2. Robert Singer (68) 2:58:02
Females – Wetsuit Results:
1. Eileen Hee (45) 2:36:19
2. Margaret Haskins (59) 2:36:44
3. Jane Fulton (48) 3:18:44
Males -Wetsuit Results:
1. Kevin Sullivan (56) 2:04:50
2. David Tutchener (36) 2:08:50
3. Tim Mulligan (36) 2:15:54
4. Jim Podolske (62) 2:43:02
5. Rick Else (65) 2:45:51
6. Dane Krampitz (59) 2:49:27
Females – Assisted Results:
1. Catherine Spina (37) 2:35:05 (fins)
Willoughby Double Crossing:
1. David Tutchener (36) 4:56:54 (wetsuit)
1. Charlotte Brynn (51) 4:59:59
2. Vera Rivard (13) 5:05:32
3. Cindy Werhane (48) 5:22:12
4. Catherine Spina (37) 6:06:06 (fins)
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