RPA Annual Meeting & Picnic 2022
Tuesday, August 23, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
Many joined us at Camp Arrow Wood for the 2022 RPA Annual Meeting & Free Picnic - Tuesday, August 23 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. While rain had been forecast, it cleared up just before the picnic & the weather was great.
All enjoyed hot food & drinks in the mess hall, several children took a dip in the pond at the camp's beach, & all learned about pond & camp initiatives & what's in store for next season.
Several arrived by kayak, beaching their kayaks at the camp's beach. Vehicle access was at 195 Cloverdale Street, Pittsfield, and there was ample parking at the camp. Pond history books were sold for $20, though most attendees already had their books.
Richmond Pond History Book
AVAILABLE NOW!
The Richmond Pond Association and Richmond Historical Commission are proud to announce the availability of The Gem of Richmond – A History of Richmond Pond. Several years in development, this book contains 30 chapters, written by multiple authors, and illustrated with over 200 photos, chronicling the evolution of the pond to present day. Described are its early settlers, how the pond was expanded, ice harvesting, the railroads, its beaches, the history of all eight former and current camps and its four community associations, how the pond’s health is managed, major recent events on the pond, and much more. The book is rife with anecdotes about happenings familiar to a few but not well known by most.
The book, The Gem of Richmond – A History of Richmond Pond, is available now for purchase locally for $20 at Bartlett's Orchard, Balderdash Cellars Winery, Shaker Mill Books, and The Bookstore (in Lenox). If you need to have book(s) delivered, call The Bookstore at (413) 637-3390 to provide your mailing address, and pay by credit or debit card. There will be a shipping charge.
All sale proceeds go to the Richmond Pond Association. For the book's Table of Contents and more information about the book, click on the MORE item on this website's menu bar & select Pond History Book Project.
Early goose hunting season
Starts September 2nd, 2022
Early goose hunting season throughout Massachusetts begins Friday, September 2nd through September 24th. The daily bag limit is 15, with a possession limit of 45.
The last visit by Wild Goose Chase, NE to Richmond Pond with their trained goose-herding border collies was the week of August 15th. As reported at our summer RPA meetings, this - the fourth year of the goose management plan - it has kept the resident goose population down considerably from what was experienced prior to starting the plan. As a result, the pond's beaches and the pond at large have been cleaner and healthier, although some beaches this year experienced more impact than in prior years, for a variety of reasons.
RPA anNual meeting @ the camp by bousquet
Was Held Tuesday, July 27, 2021
The 2021 Annual Meeting of the Richmond Pond Association was held in-person, on Tuesday, July 27, at The Camp by Bousquet (location of the former Lakeside Christian Camp). While the RPA had initially hoped to resume our all-town picnic format, last done in July 2019 at Camp Russell, many factors have impacted the RPA’s ability to plan and implement such an event this summer.
Instead, everyone was invited to arrive at The Camp by 5:00 pm, when tours of The Camp were conducted. Draft minutes of the meeting, attended by well over 100 people, are posted on this website at the Minutes (Recent) link.
This was a wonderful opportunity for all to tour the “camp across the pond.” learn their plans for The Camp and how Milltown’s multiple venues will benefit the local community as well as our many visitors to the Berkshires.
Richmond Town Beach closed for winter
RPA's last meeting of the 2020 season was October 27, by Zoom; draft minutes are already posted.
October Update - Effective at the start of October, the Richmond Town Beach was closed for the winter. While vehicle access is blocked off, pedestrian access remains, via the side pedestrian gate. Dogs remain prohibited from Town Beach all year. Winter draw-down will begin November 1st, reducing the lake level by no more that 2" per day until draw-down reaches approximately 2 feet. Refill will begin in spring, with the goal of reaching normal level by April 1st.
No information has yet been released by the listing realtor or by Converge Northeast about the outcome of the sale of Lakeside Christian Camp, though it is known that the bid submitted on behalf of the newly formed organization Lakeside4Christ was not chosen. Once an outcome is known, it will be posted here.
September Update - As of August 14, the town beach remained open its usual hours from 11 am to 5 pm, with lifeguards on duty Tuesday through Sunday. But there were no lifeguards the week before Labor Day and on Labor Day weekend. All vehicles must leave and the gate will be locked daily around dusk. Town beach remained open through the month of September, with limited hours & no lifeguards
Second weed treatment - Monday, August 24 - Pond was closed to swimming, boating & fishing this day only.
July 15 - The Board of Selectmen and Board of Health, at their July 15 joint meeting (by Zoom), discussed recent concerns regarding the town beach. A decision was made to keep the beach open, as long as beach users complied with stated expectations. As stated in the July 17 Town of Richmond weekly E-Newsletter (News from Town Hall), "Please follow the guidelines posted at the beach regarding social distancing, mask wearing, and cleaning up after yourselves after use of picnic tables so that we can keep the beach open."
The town beach is open with lifeguards from 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. The beach is open on Mondays, but without lifeguards. Please cooperate with Town employees when they close the beach at dusk.
If you have relatives, friends or neighbors who use the beach, please stress to them the importance of full compliance as well.
The September 22 RPA Meeting was at 7:00 pm by Zoom. See Calendar page for the link to join the meeting. All are welcome.
movement launched to save lakeside
Special website created
Lakeside Christian Camp has been listed for sale with Ellis Realty Advisors. Potential buyers have already participated in tours of the property. The timetable remains as previously announced; a “call for offers” is planned the 2nd week of September, with bids due on September 18th.
On June 28, the Richmond Pond Association was informed that a group of people affiliated with Lakeside over the past 40 years have organized with the hope of purchasing and continuing Lakeside Christian Camp ministry. They recently launched a new website, www.lakeside4christ.org, which will provide regular information and updates.
Lakeside Christian camp to close permanently
The following announcement was posted on Lakeside's Facebook Page on March 28, 2020:
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on current and future planned camp operations in 2020, Lakeside Christian Camp & Retreat Center will cease operations permanently starting April 1, 2020. We are deeply saddened by this event and hold Lakeside, its 40-year history, and its support team and past attendees in the highest regard.
All future church bookings and Lakeside programming will be canceled and deposits refunded in April 2020.
Please direct all questions and messages to lakeside@lakesideonline.org
Thank you to all who have supported Lakeside over the last 40-years.
Converge Northeast”
RPA Responds:
The Richmond Pond Association executive board wishes to convey its sincerest condolences to the staff and patrons of Lakeside Christian Camp. We will miss the active presence of their campers, young and old, across the pond.
Lakeside has been a very active long-term partner with the Richmond Pond Association, the Town of Richmond and the City of Pittsfield in managing the health of the pond for its human and wildlife users.
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geese remain a problem on the pond
See Minutes for more information from June 2019 RPA meeting
The Canada geese and their goslings have emerged from the nearby marshes & have been frequenting Camp Russell, South Pond Farm beach, Lakeside Christian Camp beach, Richmond Town Beach & boat launch area. Wild Goose Chase, NE has resumed work with their border collies to move the geese off the lawns into the pond. Once the geese & goslings can fly, they will be herd-chased off the pond. See additional information below for details on the all-pond goose management plan developed by the Richmond Pond Association & supported financially by the RPA, the Town, & the camps & community associations around the pond.
The planned 2020 all-Town Picnic July 28th @ Camp Russell has been canceled.
The RPA had initially planned to hold its All-Town RPA-sponsored Picnic on Tuesday, July 28, @ Camp Russell. But because of COVID-19 concerns, no such picnic will be held in summer 2020. We hope to resume this free event for Richmond residents in summer 2021.
200 geese on richmond pond last summer (2018)
2019 Goose Management Plan has been evaluated & revised 2020 Plan is being finalized
The 2019 approved all-pond Goose Management Plan for Richmond Pond was implemented and has been evaluated. Details of last year's plan are summarized in the March 2019 issue of Richmond Record (reprinted with permission below) and on the RPA website’s Minutes page. But in short, with over 200 geese on the pond last summer (2018) and more expected in summer 2019, unless control measures had been taken, the health risks from their excrement would have rendered at least segments the pond unhealthy for swimming and other recreation. Initial evaluation of the plan appears to indicate that the resident goose population on the pond in 2019 was reduced to about half of the 2018 number.
The comprehensive goose management plan has several components – habitat modification (shoreline vegetative barriers, minimization of cut grass lawns, not feeding the geese, etc.), herd-chasing by trained border collies, nesting management during nesting period, and lake management.
Nesting - While the 2019 plan included egg addling permits and completion of Goose Nesting Location Reports, most geese nested out in the marshes, so this component of the plan was not effective, and will not be included in the 2020 plan. Addling is a one-time visit to the nest to coat eggs with Wesson oil, and can be done by Wild Goose Chase NE, or the landowner, but only after the permit is issued for that location, and following training. The oil coating deprives the embryo of the oxygen needed for further development, but since the egg is returned to the nest, the goose believes it is still developing. It is essential to mislead the goose, or it would begin laying again.
Herd-chasing by trained border collies - Prior to nesting season, the staff and trained border collies of Wild Goose Chase NE visit up to three times/week to herd-chase the geese off the lake - by land (off the grassy shores of the camps and beaches, only on those properties where owner permission has been granted), and by “sea” (with the collie and handler on a motorboat or kayak supplied by Lakeside Christian Camp). When the motorboat is used, it is not to come at the geese at high speed, but to transport the dog near the swimming geese where its menacing proximity causes the geese to take off. The motorboat also transports the dog to geese on land, where the dog jumps off & herds them off the land. Herd-chasing starts in the spring prior to the nesting season. The goal of herd-chasing is to help the geese learn that Richmond Pond is not a “safe, relaxing, goose-friendly environment” and to encourage most of them to go elsewhere, hopefully before they begin nesting.
Herd-chasing stops during the 6 to 8-week long adult wing-feather molt, when the geese nest and raise their goslings; the adults cannot fly during this period. It resumes once the adults and goslings can fly.
Feeding - Lastly, please do not feed the geese. Feeding them encourages them to hang around and would undercut the plan’s multiple efforts to encourage most of the geese to go elsewhere, thereby keeping Richmond Pond and its beaches a safe and healthy place to swim, boat, fish and enjoy.
Life Cycle of Canada Geese
The life cycle of Canada Geese and related management practices have been researched by Mass Wildlife. Click link below for more detailed about Canada Geese.
Also, further down on this page is more information about the management plan, plus summaries of the proposed book on the History of Richmond Pond, and Richmond Pond's hosting of the paddle segment of the Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon in 2018.
Summary - goose management plan
This summary was distributed at the April 23, 2019 RPA meeting
Chronology:
Summer 2018 – Camp Russell, Richmond Town Beach, Lakeside Christian Camp, & South Pond Farm beach areas all experienced issues with geese. South Pond Farm hired Wild Goose Chase NE dogs & also used volunteers to chase away the geese, but the geese just went elsewhere on the pond, returning later. Camp Russell and Lakeside Christian Camp lawns were inundated with goose excrement, creating health concerns. At Town Beach, the number of geese chased from the beach area on some days was nearly 80. The goose poop there has been excessive and needed to be cleaned daily; on some days, the cleaning took staff over an hour. Despite fencing and lifeguard and other staffing of the Town Beach, the weekly beach water sampling results for E-coli exceeded safe swimming levels twice during the summer and resulted in beach closings – once in July and once in August. Counts of geese on the pond, especially in late summer, numbered as many as 150 to 200.
10/23/18 – Discussion of the goose problem at RPA meeting. With that many geese on the pond in 2018 and more expected next summer, unless pond-wide control measures are taken, it was concluded that health risks from their excrement would soon render the pond unhealthy for swimming and other recreation, ultimately also impacting property values. Health risks are the primary concern. Decision was made by the RPA to develop, as a winter project, an all-pond goose management plan for 2019; John Mead volunteered to lead plan development committee; minutes posted on website afterward.
2/26/19 – Special RPA meeting to review & discuss draft goose management plan; Wild Goose Chase NE director & dog attended. Decision made, unanimously, to approve the plan & proceed to implementation; minutes posted on RPA website afterward
March 2019 – Detailed article about the plan appeared in Richmond Record
April 2019 – Detailed article about the egg addling component appeared in Richmond Record
Canada Goose life cycle - Resident geese can live more than 20 years, returning each year to the same or nearby nesting area. Most geese begin breeding at 2-3 years old and nest every year for the rest of their lives. Laying an average of 5 eggs per nest, about half of which will hatch and become free-flying birds, a female goose may produce more than 50 young over her lifetime. Several times last summer, more than 200 geese were congregating on Richmond Pond. If only a quarter of this number hatch 2.5 surviving goslings, we could expect to see an additional 125 geese this coming season.
Components of the plan – 3 components & 3 phases - The comprehensive goose management plan has several components – habitat modification (shoreline vegetative barriers, minimization of cut grass lawns, not feeding the geese, etc.), nesting management during nesting period, and lake management.
The plan is implemented in 3 phases:
Prior to nesting season - The staff and border collies of Wild Goose Chase NE visit up to three times/week to herd-chase the geese off the lake - by land (off the grassy shores of the camps and beaches, only on those properties where owner permission has been granted), and by “sea” (with the collie and handler on a motorboat or kayak supplied by Lakeside Christian Camp). When the motorboat is used, it is not to come at the geese at high speed, but to transport the dog near the swimming geese where its menacing proximity causes the geese to take off. The motorboat also transports the dog to geese on land, where the dog jumps off & herds them off the land. Herd-chasing starts in the spring prior to the nesting season. The goal of herd-chasing is to help the geese learn that Richmond Pond is not a “safe, relaxing, goose-friendly environment” and to encourage most of them to go elsewhere, hopefully before they begin nesting. As stated on their website, “Working border collies … provide safe, humane and effective control of year-round problem geese. They have a classic predator appearance that geese take seriously.” Ducks and other wildlife will not be chased by the dogs.
Nesting season - Herd-chasing stops during the 6 to 8-week long adult wing feather molt, when the geese nest and raise their goslings; the adults cannot fly during this period. The nesting management phase involves RPA volunteers distributing egg addling permit applications to landowners where geese are known to have recently nested or where nesting is expected. Completed forms must be mailed to MassWildlife, which then issues a permit to the landowner to allow addling on that property only. The two camps, South Pond Farm and the Town are also in the process of or have completed these permit applications. Addling is a one-time visit to the nest to coat eggs with Wesson oil & return them to the nest, and can be done by Wild Goose Chase NE, RPA volunteers or the landowner, but only after the permit is issued & related training has occurred. Eggs are not to be shaken or broken. Addling will not proceed if the egg “float test” determines that the eggs have developed enough to become viable (embryo can breathe). Addling may not occur on properties where permits have not been approved. A post-season report on nests and eggs addled must be filed with MassWildlife.
After nesting season - Once both adults and goslings can fly, herd-chasing by Wild Goose Chase NE resumes, again to encourage most of the geese to go elsewhere. After the summer, hunting (with hunting license and waterfowl permit, well away from dwellings, during the early and late fall goose hunting seasons) could also help reduce numbers of resident geese.
Financing the plan - The RPA board committed to pay 50% of the “not to exceed” $12,460 cost of the contract with Wild Goose Chase NE, requesting that each of the five PIPOs (primary impacted property owners) support a 10% share of the cost – Lakeside Christian Camp, Camp Russell, South Pond Farm Condominiums, Richmond Shores Civic Association, and the Town of Richmond (with its Town Beach and public boat launch). Pending reimbursement to the RPA from the PIPOs, the RPA also committed, if needed, to “front” the other 50% so that billings from the vendor can be paid in a timely fashion.
Vegetative Buffers deter geese
The following is excerpted from the Massachusetts Buffer Manual (Using Vegetative Buffers to Protect our Lakes and Rivers), prepared by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission for the Department of Environmental Protection - 2003
DETER NUISANCE GEESE AND DEER - In some locations in Massachusetts, Canada geese and white-tailed deer are considered pests. Planting buffers along the shoreline helps to restore the landscape back to a more natural condition and will deter Canada Geese from visiting your lawn. Geese love succulent green grass, but will not travel through tall grasses or dense vegetation to get to it. This is especially true when parents have goslings that cannot yet fly. Geese are most comfortable in open areas that provide unobstructed views around them and easy access to the water, which is their safe haven from predators. Planting a mix of shrubs and trees, or even allowing grasses and ferns to grow tall, will act as a barrier between the water and your lawn. Removing waterfront lawns means removing a ready source of food, which ultimately helps to maintain goose populations at more natural levels.
Richmond Record Article - March 2019
Richmond Pond Goose Management Plan to be Implemented
By Ken Kelly
On the evening of February 26th, Town Hall hosted a border collie demonstration by Eric Johnson of Wild Goose Chase NE and one of his five working dogs, “Skye.” Paying alert attention to Eric’s voice commands, Skye zig-zagged her way through the attentive crowd, finishing the demonstration with an alert sit at Eric’s feet, clearly eager for more.
Almost two dozen participated in this special meeting of the Richmond Pond Association, where John Mead, Executive Director of Lakeside Christian Camp, presented the results of the small work group that had researched and developed a multi-faceted plan to reduce the resident Canada goose population on Richmond Pond. The plan, which includes information from Mass Wildlife and NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation resources, includes the following background.
As those who live on or use the pond know, the Richmond Pond Canada resident goose population exploded in 2018. Consequently, the pond and abutting properties experienced large accumulations of droppings and feathers; nutrient loading of the pond, contributing to algae and weed growth; aggressive behavior by nesting birds, endangering children; and public health concerns at beaches, causing the closure of several during the summer. Allowed to continue unchecked, continued expansion of the resident goose population and corresponding degradation of pond and property conditions will severely impact the safe recreational use of Richmond Pond and abutting properties. Over the long term the situation may impact property values.
Resident geese can live more than 20 years, returning each year to the same or nearby nesting area. Most geese begin breeding at 2-3 years old and nest every year for the rest of their lives. Laying an average of 5 eggs per nest, about half of which will hatch and become free-flying birds, a female goose may produce more than 50 young over her lifetime. Several times last summer, more than 200 geese were congregating on Richmond Pond. If only a quarter of this number hatch 2.5 surviving goslings, we could expect to see an additional 125 geese this coming season.
Short grass, abundant lakes and ponds, lack of natural predators, limited hunting, and supplemental feeding have created an explosion in resident goose numbers. While most people find a small number of geese acceptable, problems have developed as the local flock has grown and the droppings have become excessive. A goose produces a pound of droppings per day.
As was explained at the meeting, an all-pond strategy is necessary. If only one or two camps or community associations arrange to chase the geese away, the entire pond will suffer, as the geese just temporarily relocate elsewhere on the pond and soon return to the camp or community. The goal is to help the geese learn that Richmond Pond is not a “safe, relaxing, goose-friendly environment” and encourage most of them to go elsewhere.
The comprehensive goose management plan has several phased components – habitat modification (shoreline vegetative barriers, etc.), nesting management and lake management - designed to take into account the life cycle of the geese. Implementation involves the staff and border collies of Wild Goose Chase NE visiting up to three times/week to herd-chase the geese off the lake - by land (off the grassy shores of the camps and beaches, with owner permission), and by “sea” (with the collie and handler on a motorboat or kayak supplied by Lakeside Christian Camp). Herd-chasing starts in the spring prior to the nesting season and continues until the 6-8-week adult wing feather molt period begins, when the geese nest and raise their goslings. Once both adults and gosling can fly, herd-chasing resumes. As stated on their website, “Working border collies … provide safe, humane and effective control of year-round problem geese. They have a classic predator appearance that geese take seriously.”
The nesting management phase involves RPA volunteers distributing egg addling permit applications to landowners where geese are known to have recently nested or where nesting is expected. This is being done now. Completed forms must be mailed to MassWildlife, which then issues a permit to the landowner to allow addling on that property only. The two camps, South Pond Farm and the Town are also completing these permit applications. Addling is a one-time visit to the nest to coat eggs with Wesson oil, and can be done by Wild Goose Chase NE, RPA volunteers or the landowner, but only after the permit is issued.
Individual homeowners and camps are also encouraged to take some measures on their own. These include not feeding the geese, assisting in locating nesting sites, installing native vegetation borders along shorelines (no permit required), installing fencing or non-native vegetative barriers along shorelines (permit required), minimizing cut grass lawns, or hunting (with hunting license and waterfowl permit, well away from dwellings, during the early and late fall goose hunting seasons).
Following extensive discussion, all present were asked whether they supported the plan (all did). The RPA board then unanimously voted to endorse the plan and committed to pay 50% of the “not to exceed” $12,460 cost of the contract with Wild Goose Chase NE, requesting that each of the five PIPOs (primary impacted property owners) support a 10% share of the cost – Lakeside Christian Camp, Camp Russell, South Pond Farm Condominiums, Richmond Shores Civic Association, and the Town of Richmond (with its Town Beach and public boat launch). Pending reimbursement to the RPA from the PIPOs, the RPA also committed, if needed, to “front” the other 50% so that billings from the vendor can be paid in a timely fashion.
Volunteers are encouraged to contact Laura Rosenthal at South Pond Farm or John Mead at Lakeside Christian Camp. Their contact information is on the RPA website at www.richmondpondassociation.org.
Reprinted with permission
NOTE - This article previously appeared in the March 2019 issue of the Richmond Record. It is reprinted here with the permission of the Editor.
Annual subscriptions to the monthly Richmond Record are available by mailing a check for $21 payable to Richmond Record, addressed to Richmond Record, PO Box 214, Richmond MA 01254. Individual copies of the current issue are also available at Bartlett's Orchard for $1.75.
a book - the history of Richmond pond
This is a proposed book project of the Richmond Historical Commission
with support from the Richmond Pond Association
PROPOSED CONCEPT – A “collector’s” history book with photos, reasonably priced, to be developed & published in spring 2021, with editor & printer yet to be determined. Financial/marketing plan is being developed. RPA would sell advertising/sponsorships, & RPA to provide “front money” for publishing, reimbursed by book sales.
PROJECT GROUP - Gloria Morse, Ken Kelly, & Holly Stover
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - The staff of both of the pond’s camps & the officers of the four pond community associations are asked to provide summaries of their histories & interesting anecdotes, in Word format, for possible inclusion. Please submit them to Ken Kelly at: kkelly@utica.edu.
MAJOR COMPONENTS:
· Introduction, including History of Richmond Pond Association & Richmond Historical Commission
· Geology, Typography, the Pond & its Tributaries
· Local Native American history; early history of Richmond (maps, deed references); Shaker community
· First cottages & early evolution of camps & communities
· Raising the pond; the dam (1865), submerging the county road that crossed the pond
· Richmond town beach(es)
· Boat launch (1970’s)..
· Pond health, Diagnostic Feasibility Study, septic systems/sewer system; inlet dredging; beach & tributary monitoring
· Weed management efforts; protection measures from other invasives
· The fishery; native & introduced species, with history of fish stocking; other wildlife
Old times:
· The railroads (narrow gauge & regular), & their historic local uses, including ice harvesting
· Pontoon planes during WW II; Truran’s boat rental service
· Legends – Ghost stories - The Green Hand; Prohibition activities; others…
History of the current & former camps:
· Camp Allegro (girls camp); now Lakeside Christian Camp & Conference Center
· Camp Russell (on the former Branch Farm); initially boys only & overnight; now coed day camp
· Camp Bluebird & Women’s Club of Pittsfield; Camp Marion White; its breakwater; Town Park effort
Each community association:
· Branch Farm (history of Branch Farm; Boys Club role)
· Whitewood (initially Truran’s cottages)
· Richmond Shores (Lakeside Co., development began 1948)
· South Pond Farm Condominiums (from Scace property; Town & RPA role in limiting its parameters)
Recent developments:
· Tracy Brook Wildlife Sanctuary; Hosting The Josh; Balderdash Cellars Winery; …
Richmond Pond Hosts The Josh
Richmond Pond hosted the paddle leg of Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon on Sunday, September 16, 2018
Because of the closure of Stockbridge Bowl to swimming & other activities related to the toxic algae bloom there, the planning committee for the Josh RunAground requested and received approval from the chair of the Richmond Board of Selectmen, in response to a recommendation from the Richmond Pond Harbormaster (the Richmond Town Administrator), to relocate the canoe/kayak/SUP component of the Sunday, September 16th Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon to Richmond Pond. The Richmond Pond Association executive board was consulted & enthusiastically endorsed this action.
The decision to use Richmond Pond was publicly released (see article in 9/10/18 Berkshire Eagle, front page of Sports section). Details of the re-routing of the 3-part race were finalized by the race committee in close coordination with Town of Richmond officials, volunteers from the Richmond Pond Association and many others.
The race director has asked me to share her own and the race committee's thanks to the Richmond Pond community for allowing the Josh to use their roads, public boat ramp, Town Beach and Camp Russell for the 42nd Josh Billings Triathlon. Cooperation from Richmond Town officials, volunteers from the Richmond Pond Association & others was extremely helpful in "saving" the paddle portion of the race when Stockbridge Bowl became unavailable. This was an exciting event, introducing many from the Berkshires to Richmond Pond while many of those around the pond had a ring-side seat!
Ken Kelly, President
Richmond Pond Association
Race details:
Bike Leg
Bikes started in Great Barrington at the Price Chopper parking lot as usual. The bikers rode up to West Stockbridge on the usual route, however once they arrive in West Stockbridge they turned left and went up 41. They proceeded up 41 to a right turn onto Summit Road. Summit Road was closed to traffic. At the end of Summit, the bikers turned left onto Swamp Road and then left onto Boys Club Road. The bikers proceeded down the road and turned left onto a gravel road (Beech Road/Town Beach Road) which took them all the way to the Richmond Boat Ramp where the transition area was for all paddlers and the iron/tin racers. The bike leg is 23.8 miles.
Paddle Leg
The paddlers took the hand-off at the Boat Ramp and then ran/jogged/walked 1/3 mile to the Richmond Town Beach where the paddling leg began. Iron/tin racers had their transition at the Boat Ramp and then headed to the Town Beach to begin paddling. The paddle was 2½ times around the lake counter-clockwise, ending at Camp Russell. The runners waited for the paddlers at the camp and the iron/tin transition area was also at the camp. The paddle is ~5 miles.
Run Leg
The runners took the hand-off at the Camp Russell beach and ran up to Swamp Road. They turned right on Swamp Road, took a left down East Road, came down to a left on Lenox Road and then proceeded up and over the mountain to the finish at Tanglewood. Lenox Mountain Road was closed to traffic. The run course is 6.5 miles.
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