The Upper Valley Mountain Men rugby club will hold a recruitment session and practice on June 27, 2018, as it looks to expand its roster with this fall’s promotion to the third division of the New England Rugby Football Union. (Courtesy photograph)
The Upper Valley Mountain Men rugby club will hold a recruitment session and practice on June 27, 2018, as it looks to expand its roster with this fall’s promotion to the third division of the New England Rugby Football Union. (Courtesy photograph) Credit: courtesy photograph

Gaspe, Quebec — Thor’s Stone Athletic Club competitor Jane Higgins set a pair of age-group records at last weekend’s Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championships in Canada.

Higgins competed in the 53-kilogram weight class among women ages 70-74. The 70-year-old had a clean and jerk of 84 pounds and a snatch of 64 pounds, both of which were new records for her age group at the meet.

Higgins also left as the best weightlifter in her age group regardless of weight division.

On the Pitch

Mountain Men Recruiting

Lebanon — The Upper Valley Mountain Men are looking to build depth in their ranks for the upcoming club rugby campaign and will start the process with an open practice next week.

Under the auspices of the Upper Valley Rugby Club, the Mountain Men completed an undefeated season in New England Rugby Football Union Division IV last fall, gaining promotion to D-III this season. The club will get things rolling with a workout open to anyone interested in learning more about rugby from 5:45-7:30 on June 27 at the former Lebanon Junior High School field on Bank Street.

The workout is open to all men and women regardless of past experience with the sport. The workouts will emphasize the basics, wuch as passing, safe tackling, rules and field positions. Each practice will conclude with a game of touch rugby, allowing new members to put their new skills to work.

The UVRC also has plans in the works for a special open-house practice and social from noon-2 p.m. on July 14. For more information on events or the team in general, visit www.uppervalleyrugby.com or email uppervalleyrugby@gmail.com.

Getting Some Kicks

Gamache on Regional Team

Barboursville, W.Va. — West Lebanon’s Gracie Gamache, a member of the Kimball Union Academy girls soccer program, reached the semifinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup tournament last weekend with her spring club team, Nashua, N.H.-based NEFC Boston Breakers WC Elite last weekend.

NEFC made the tournament semifinals in the girls 16U division on the basis of a 2-1-0 run through group play. NEFC opened with a 5-1 defeat of Pennsylvania’s Victory Express and a 3-0 shutout of Virginia’s Beach FC Black. A 2-1 loss to Pennsylvania’s Montgomery United didn’t keep NEFC from advancing.

NEFC’s run there as West Virginia Football Club Black grabbed a semifinal win on penalty kicks after 80 minutes of regulation play and another 30 of overtime. Despite the defeat, Gamache and NEFC will compete in the U.S. Youth Soccer national tournament in Aurora, Colo., next month.

LSC at Nordic Cup

Burlington — Four squads from the Lightning Soccer Club came home as age-group champions at the Nordic Cup youth soccer tournament over the weekend.

The U10 Thunder boys rolled to a 4-0 record and the top spot in the Premier Division, getting wins over two Nordic Soccer squads as well as Waterbury United and BlackWatch Burlington. Eleven different Thunder players scored goals, and the team outscored its opponents by a whopping 32-6 margin.

The U11 Comet boys also went undefeated in their division to close out their spring season. The Comets owned a 23-4 goals differential through four matches, capped by a 4-1 win over Nordic Green in the final.

The U12 Fever boys dominated their division with an undefeated tournament record. The Fever rolled in its division final, beating Albany, N.Y.-based BlackWatch Premier, 5-1.

The U15 Synergy girls also won their tournament crown, beating CSC 03-04 in the final, 4-2.

Among other Lightning squads, the U15 Blast boys took second, the U13 Storm boys were third, the U14 Fire boys were fourth and the U12 Bugs girls were second.

On the Diamond

Lebanon Ripken to States

Lebanon — The Lebanon Cal Ripken 12U all-stars advanced to the New Hampshire state tournament by sweeping a best-of-three series from Claremont last week.

Lebanon took the opener in Claremont on June 13, 9-1, and clinched the series with a 10-0 decision 24 hours later in Lebanon. The squad’s pitchers combined to strikeout 14 batters over 10 innings in the two wins, allowing six hits and five walks. Claremont’s only run in the two games was unearned.

Sam Bates, Zach Thompson and Bennett Hewett combined on the mound for the win on Wednesday, while Dawson Bates and Zach Aldrich united for a no-hitter in Thursday’s clincher. Dominic Petkus had three home runs in five at-bats in the series and Bodie Benoit added a three-run homer to close Thursday’s contest. Lebanon amassed 20 hits in the two games.

Lebanon will play in the New Hapshire Cal Ripken 12U Major 60 state tournament starting on June 30 in Barrington, N.H.

On the Run

Shaker 7 This Weekend

Enfield — The Enfield Village Association will fire up the annual Shaker 7 road race on Sunday for its 14th edition.

The race covers a seven-mile route around Mascoma Lake, beginning and ending at Shaker Recreation Park in Enfield. A three-mile walk option is also available. Proceeds from the Shaker 7 go toward projects and events run by the EVA, which seeks to enhance the town’s cultural, recreational and natural resources.

The cost to participate is $30 for adults and $15 for students. Online registration is available through www.enfieldmainstreet.org. Day-of-race registration will be available starting at 7:30 a.m., and both the run and walk will fire off at 9 a.m.

The Shaker 7 is part of the nine-race Upper Valley Running Series overseen by the Upper Valley Running Club. For the complete schedule of events, visit www.uppervalleyrunningclub.org.

Save a Stray 5K

Newport — The Sullivan County Humane Society will hold its fifth Save a Stray 5K road race on Saturday, beginning at the Corbin Covered Bridge.

The race, which will start at 10 a.m., is a fundraiser for SCHS, which provides help for homeless animals and sponsors spay and neuter clinics. Pre-registration is $20 and comes with a free event T-shirt for the first 100 runners to sign up. Kids under the age of 12 are free.

Race-day registration will also be available, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The day will include prizes for the top male and female finishers in several age groups, raffle prizes and a post-race barbecue, all taking place at the covered bridge. Visit www.sullivancountyhumanesociety.org or contact Laurie Waterman at 603-381-0715 or laurie_waterman@comcast.net for more information.