Winner of the two mile race, Eric Nilsson from Boston, MA swims alongside support kayaker Dave Delahunty (Ed Smith Photo)
GOFFSTOWN, NH: The Glen Lake Swim, Episode 4: The Beast from Loch Glennie was held in Goffstown, NH on August 14th. It was a beautiful sunny day with water temperatures at 77 degrees, making it perfect for swimming. The Glen Lake Swim comes with a subtitle each year. The first year was “The Search For Glennie,” episode 2 was called “Glennie Rises.” Last year was “Glennie Strikes Back,” which put a Star Wars spin on the Glennie story. Glennie is the friendly plesiosaur-like creature that has been trapped in Glen Lake since the Gregg’s Falls Dam was constructed in 1918. A full description and history of the mysterious creature, along with photos and several videos, is posted at the event website.
The 2022 “Beast From Loch Glennie” event was a tribute to Nessie, from Loch Ness in Scotland, the granddaddy of all lake monsters. As such, the swimmers were greeted by Jeff Rowan, a Sottish bagpiper in full kilt and regalia as they exited the water.
Master Swimmer turned announcer, Tracy Grilli, interviews One-Mile winners Sean Carter and Kysa Crusco. (Gary Girolimon Photo)
“At any race, running, cycling, or swimming, there are a group of competitors that are trying to win,” says race director Gary Girolimon. “The rest of the participants are there to challenge themselves and have to fun. By creating a theme we are enhancing the fun by making them part of an adventure.” And if the comments received after the race from many participants are any indication, this goal was achieved. Those who were there to race were not disappointed, either. The course was a mile-long narrow triangular circuit, lined with brightly-colored course marker buoys. Large orange buoys marked the turns and yellow buoys lined the straightaways.
Safety was, and always is, a priority at the Glen Lake Swim. Race support was provided by more than a dozen kayakers and paddle boarders that paralleled the swimmers as they navigated the lake. Another dozen kayakers were certified life guards that took up assigned positions on the course. New Hampshire Marine Patrol was on the lake to keep recreational boat traffic away from the course, and the Goffstown Fire Department was on the water to provide assistance if any was needed. The event also had two volunteer boats on the course, one of which transported Dr. David Lewis, a physician and the organizing committee’s safety representative. Goffstown CERT was shore-side ready to provide any assistance necessary. Luckily no assistance was necessary on the water or on dry land.
Jeff Rowan, Scottish Bag Piper greets the swimmers as they exit the water. (Dave Belliveau Photo)
Swimming to victory in the one mile race was Sean Carter, Deerfield, NH (skins), finishing in 26:18. Winning the women’s skins division was Kysa Crusco, Manchester, NH at 26:45. In the wetsuit division, Christian Avard, Lebanon, NH took top honors for males at 29:36, and the women's wetsuit competition was won by Jocelyn Nokes, Nashua, NH at 30:04.
In the two mile race Eric Nilsson, Boston , MA (skins) was first out of the water after swimming a blistering 42:09 – besting his record time from last year by over two minutes. First overall female was Katie Chevalier, Meredith, NH (skins) at 56:42. First male wetsuit swimmer was Stuart Cromarty, Foster, RI at 46:14 and the first female wetsuit swimmer was Meredith Wegener, Nashua, NH at 1:07:34. Full results are posted at https://www.glenlakeswim.com.
After the swim, the festivities continued at the “Mini Glennie Expo” with raffles, dancing, awards and exhibits. In keeping with the theme, the trophies were gold, silver, and bronze Glennies. At noon the festivities moved to the Mountain Base Brewery-sponsored after-party, where the theme of the 2023 Glen Lake Swim was revealed: Viva Las Glennie – proving that Glennie does indeed rock!
Goffstown Television covered the event with a multi-camera shoot that included two drones. The footage is being edited down into a program that they plan to premiere at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester, NH later in the year, followed by online availability. The premier will be free to all swim participants, volunteers and their families.
Swimmers traversing Glen Lake as viewed from above. (Mark Nigro Photo)
Top prizes for the event were furnished by SwimOutlet.com, DICK’S Sporting Goods, and Runner’s Alley/Marathon Sports. Many other local and regional sponsors contributed to the event’s success, including: Eversource, New Wave Swim Buoy, Executive Health & Sports Center, Northeast Delta Dental, Fidium Fiber, Sully's Superette, SweetWater Swim Studio, Chunky's Cinema Pub, Mountain Base Brewery, Pelmac Industries, St. Mary's Bank, Lewis Physical Medicine, Staples - Bedford, NH, Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc., Picky Bars, Panera Bread, Stonyfield Farms, Goldenrod Restaurant, Goffstown ACE Hardware, Goffstown Hannaford, Picky Bars, Trek Bicycles, and Domino's Pizza, Goffstown.
The Glen Lake Swim is organized by the Granite State Health & Fitness Foundation, an independent, volunteer operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization striving to promote and support health, fitness, and wellness opportunities in the community.
Contact: Gary Girolimon, Race Director, gary@gshff.org