From Phil White, Kingdom Swim Chair…

On Saturday, July 24, 2010, 195 swimmers, ages ranging from 7 to 68 years old took to the waters of Lake Memphremagog in Newport, VT for the Second Annual Kingdom Swim.  Attached are the times in the 10 mile, 3 mile, 1 mile, ? mile and 100 yard swims.

In nearly perfect swimming conditions, Rondi Davies, an Australian living in New York City, completed the 10 mile course with a time of 3:56:49.and successfully defended her title as overall Champion of Kingdom Swim by beating out Joe Sheehan of Boxford Mass in a hard fought duel. As the female and male winners, Rondi and Joe each received a Kingdom Swim walking stick, which was hand carved by Bill Peck of Derby, Vermont.

Swimmers, their kayakers, and their families came from 26 different states, Mexico, and India to participate in the swim.  Swapnali Yadav, and 11 year old from Mumbai, India was the female youth winner of the 10 mile course and Michael Happ, 17, from Hingham, Mass was the male youth winner of the 10 mile course.

Earlier, on Friday evening, over 300 marched in the Pet and Swimmers Parade and dined at the Gateway as part of the Swimmers and Yackers Pasta Dinner.

Shu Wan of Richmond, Indiana was winner of the Elton John look-a-like contest. Bill Shipp of Mitchellville, Maryland was the high pledge winner, raising $1,175 in donations to support IROC’s Healthy Changes Initiative.   He presented Phil White, Chairman of IROC’s Board, with a Maryland state flag which had been flown over the Maryland statehouse for a day, in honor of this ground breaking program.  Swimmers raised over $27,000 in support of the program.  The Initiative is an exercise program and discounted membership for people suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis as well as cancer patients, cancer survivors, and seniors over the age of 65.

  The swim was conducted as part of Newport’s Kingdom Aquafest  which also included a street fair on Saturday afternoon, a wide variety of music throughout the afternoon, Last Kid Picked played through the Fireworks,  celebrating The heart of summer in the heart of the Kingdom.  Sunday saw Pick & Shovel bed races and Passumpsic Bank Logrolling.

White thanked Peter Stuart, a member of the Board and Chair of the Kingdom Swim Organizing Committee, Julie Gunn, Director of Programming at IROC and the swim’s “field marshall”at the beach and 100 or so  battle hardened staff and volunteers who supported the event not only on the beach but also in kayaks and  motorboats out on the water.  The event also raised funds for Memphremagog Watershed Association, Coutts Moriority, Northwods Stewardship Center, and a number of other charitable causes.  The event was sponsored by Community National Bank, Paul Decelles Investment Planning, Vermont Highland Cattle Company, Poulin Lumber, Louis Garneau, Boston Sports Club, XTerra Wet Suits, The East Side Restaurant, and numerous others.

Results are available on our results page.