Vera Rivard
Vera Rivard

Sunapee — Upper Valley Aquatic Club member Vera Rivard used the Independence Day weekend to advance the cause of cancer awareness by completing a circumferential swim of Little Lake Sunapee.

Rivard, 12, of Springfield, N.H., an open-water swimmer, completed the swim, which covered more than 5 miles, on July 2. She came up with the idea to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund to honor her UVAC coach, Dorsi Raynolds.

Rivard’s swim brought in $1,390.38 in donations, all of which will go to the research fund.

Hansen Medals for UVAC

Boston — The UVAC’s Erik Hansen posted a pair of second-place results to highlight the White River Junction club’s participation at last weekend’s New England 14-and-Under Age-Group Championships at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool.

Hansen claimed runner-up finishes in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle in the boys’ age 13-14 division. The Hanover resident completed the former in 9 minutes, 4.34 seconds and the latter in 17:32.34. He also shared fourth place in the 400 free (4:26.76), was sixth in the 400 IM, made the A final in two other events and the B final in one more. As a result, Hansen left with a plaque for achieving one of the higher-scoring tallies among competitors in his division.

Isabelle Hillier grabbed two victories in her breaststroke speciality for UVAC. Competing among girls ages 13-14, Hillier took the 200 in 2:45.59 and shared the victory in the 100, tying Sophie Brindisi in 1:17.72.

The UVAC’s Jack Wadsworth also had a strong meet, highlighted by a third-place result in the 200 backstroke (2:17.74) in the boys 13-14 division. He also landed in the top six in two other races and won the B final in the 200 IM.

On the Run WNHTRS Coming to SPRA

Hanover — The sixth race in the Western New Hampshire Trail Running Series, the Stoaked Trail Run, comes to the Storrs Pond Recreation Area on Aug. 6.

The 12.5-kilometer race starts at 9 a.m., with registration opening at 7 a.m. at Storrs Pond’s upper parking lot.

The route will take runners over the rolling Oak Hill cross country skiing and running trail network, and funds from the event will go toward projects and initiatives supported by the Upper Valley Trail Alliance.

Advance registration, through Aug. 5, is available for $15 for adults and $10 for youths ages 15-19; the fee increases $5 for all on race day. Prizes go to the top three finishers in each age division, and other raffle prizes will also be available. The first 100 participants to sign up will also receive a free Storrs Pond day pass for use after the event is done.

Visit www.wnhtrs.com for more information or contact the UVTA’s Laura Romig at laura.romig@uvtrails.org.

CHaD Early-BirdDeadline Nearing

Hanover — The early-bird deadline for the upcoming CHaD Hero, and a chance to save a few bucks, is almost here.

The race, scheduled for Oct. 16, features a half marathon over a USA Track and Field-certified course along with a 5K run or walk, a 10K hike and half-century bicycle ride. Signing up for any by Aug. 15 will result in registration savings of up to 50 percent or $25, depending on the event.

Benefits from the event go toward the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth. For more information on registration or the day, visit www.chadhero.org.

Last year’s event raised more than $700,000 for CHaD.

In the Outdoors Dewey Pond Milfoil Work

Quechee — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for one or more of four sessions gears toward removing invasive milfoil plants from Dewey’s Pond in Quechee.

Sessions are scheduled on Aug. 10 (6-8 p.m.), Aug. 13 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), Aug. 17 (6-9 p.m.) and Aug. 20 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Volunteers are encouraged to bring a small boat, kayak or canoe along with a 5-gallon bucket.

The milfoil removal work is an ongoing project supported by the town as well as the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Each session will launch from the Dewey’s Pond boat landing on Quechee Main Street.

Call Hartford Parks and Recreation at 802-295-5036 for more information.

On the Tee NEHSA Tourney at CCNH

North Sutton, n.h. — The Mount Sunapee-centered New England Healing Sports Association will hold a fundraising golf tournament at the Country Club of New Hampshire on Aug. 18.

Proceeds from the tourney will go toward the programs the NEHSA uses toward helping people with physical and developmental disabilities. Year-round programs include skiing, showboarding, kayaking and paddleboarding.

The golf tournament will include a barbecue meal, silent auction and a 50-50 raffle. Registration starts at 10 a.m. for the 11 a.m. shotgun start; the $100 fee to play includes a cart, greens fees dinner and prizes. Hole sponsorships are also available for $100.

To sign up, contact the NEHSA at 603-763-9158 or info@nehsa.org.

U.S. Golf ChallengeAt Newport GC

Newport — Newport Golf Club will hold a qualifier for the United States Golf Challenge tournament on Aug. 6.

The tournament is a two-man best-ball event, with local tournaments called King’s Cup Qualifiers contributing winning tandems for the eventual national championship at the Disney World Golf Resort in Orlando, Fla., later this year. Teams will be broken down into four flights: championship (handicap 4.9 or lower), A (5.0-9.9), B (10.0-14.9) and C (15.0 and higher). Winners in Orlando qualify to go to Ireland for a Ryder Cup-style tournament in the future.

Visit www.usgolfchallenge.com for more information or to sign up for the Newport qualifier.

On Two Wheels Tour de Taste on Tap

Fairlee — The Upper Valley Trails Alliance is lining up food stops and riding routes for its 10th Tour de Taste, a progressive bicycling meal set for Sept. 11 starting at 9 a.m.

Riders may choose routes of six, 21 or 30 miles, all starting in Fairlee for their respective tours. All along each route, participants will get to stop and sample fare provided by eateries around the Upper Valley such as Arianna’s Restaurant, Base Camp Cafe and Lou’s Bakery, among others.

Visit www.uvtrails.org for more information or to register in advance.

On the Trails O Section Hikes This Week

Thetford — The Green Mountain Club’s Ottauquechee Section will end July and head into August with two hikes and two bike rides for which anyone can take part.

Peter Hope (603-863-6456) will lead a hike along the Long Trail’s Monroe Skyline on Sunday. Hikers will travel from Lincoln Gap to Appalachian Gap over a pair of 4,000-foot peaks, Mount Abraham and Mount Ellen. A strenuous trek, the hike will cover 11.5 miles and about 2,500 feet of elevation change.

Hope will then guide a walk along Hanover’s Lower Slade Brook on Wednesday. Participants will enjoy an easy stroll of 1-2 miles through attractive woods and brooks.

If riding is more your speed, Heinz and Inge Trebitz (802-785-2129) will take a group on Saturday for a bike trip along the rail trail in Woodsville, Bath and Lisbon. Participants will need either a mountain or hybrid bike in the flat, but rough, trail surface.

Lastly, Inge Brown (802-280-8017) will lead a bicycle group on Tuesday for a 14-mile out-and-back ride through Vermont’s Groton State Forest. Also on a rail trail, the route will go from Ricker Pond to Owl’s Head, with a 2-mile round-trip walk up the latter for lunch.

On the Pitch VSOA Ref Clinics

Wilder — The Vermont Soccer Officials Association has two clinics remaining this summer for folks interested in refereeing elementary, middle or high school soccer this fall.

The VSOA will come at Whitcomb High School in Bethel for a clinic on Aug. 27, an all-day event running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact Gary Blodgett at gblodg@comcast.net or either 802-558-3147 or 802-228-8711 to register.

Another clinic will take place at Peoples Academy in Morrisville on Aug. 26 at 1 p.m., with both classroom and scrimmage clinics planned for the same day.

For more information on the Morrisville clinic, contact Frank Martel at 802-782-4489 or fmartel55@yahoo.com.

In both cases, the cost to participate is $75, with $25 of the fee covering NHFS insurance.