January:

USMS 1-Hour Virtual Championship heats (16 swimmers per heat) for NEM Swim Club members at Roger Williams University in Bristol and post-meet team luncheon at Aidan's Pub.

March (during Harvard's Spring Break):

New England LMSC Short Course Yards Championship Meet (800+ swimmers) at Harvard University's Blodgett and Saturday night team dinner party at a nearby pub.

July:

Newport to Jamestown Save The Bay Swim fundraiser (400+ swimmers) to help protect Narragansett Bay, the largest estuary in New England. Join the SwimRI Save The Bay Team. There is a pre-swim team photo and often a post-swim team brunch or party later that day.

September (the second Saturday):

Swim Across America - Rhode Island Swim (600+ swimmers) at Roger Wheeler State Beach in Narragansett to raise funds for cancer research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. Join the SwimRI SAA-RI Team. There is a team photo. The 2022 event will include a water carnival atmosphere including a DJ, events for all ages, a sponsor/vendor village, and an after-party on the beach.  SwimRI often ends up at George's of Galilee.

November (the Saturday before Thanksgiving):

"Stuffies vs Steamers" Intra-Squad Dual Meet (~40 swimmer limit) at Providence College and team dinner at Ladder 133 Sports Bar & Restaurant. Due to a pool scheduling conflict, the 2021 SvS meet and party took place at Pods Swimming and Xaco Taco.

December:

New England LMSC Short Course Meters Championship Meet (400+ swimmers) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute & Saturday SwimRI team dinner.

For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, click here.

The USMS Board of Directors has extended its recommendation to not sanction in-person pool and open water events through Oct. 31 and to begin a phased return to competition on Nov. 1.

• 2020 USMS 5K/10K ePostal National Championships  (June 1–Sept. 30)
• 2020 USMS 3000/6000-Yard ePostal National Championship (Sept. 15–Nov. 15)
• 2020 SmartyPants Vitamins USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (Nov. 15–30)
• Go the Distance  (ongoing)

Rhode Island Guidance:

           ReopeningRI Website

           Phase 2 Initial Guidelines for Pools (6/15/2020 update)

           Summary of Phase 3 Guidance for Pools (7/2/2020)

           Considerations for Public Pools, Hot Tubs, and Water Playgrounds During COVID-19

           How COVID-19 Spreads

 U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS):

           COVID-19 Restart Guide

           COVID-19 Member & Coach Resources

           Open the Pool Letter Template

           Club & Coach Services reopening consultation: clubandcoach@usmastersswimming.org

 USA Swimming: Facility Reopening Messaging & Planning (w/social distancing pool layouts)

 Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP): COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures

 Pool graphics without swimmers for teams/facilities to plan and illustrate swimmer configurations:

          6 lanes  8 lanes  10 lanes  12 lanes  23 lanes

 Olympic Athletes and Swim Business Leaders: Letter to President Donald Trump

 New York Times 05/22/2020: Children May Be at Higher Risk of Drowning This Summer

 Fitter & Faster: Get Your Pool Open and Team Back in the Water Webinar 05/25/2020

 ONE: Swim Practice Social Distancing Protocol

 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA):

           Planning to reopen your learn to swim program

           Personal Protective Equipment safety practices for your staff

           Training in-water staff for reopening

 U.S. Swim School Association (USSSA): COVID-19 Update Webinar Series

 Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA): Coronavirus Resources & Reopening Guidance

 Counsilman Hunsaker: Pool Operator COVID-19 Resource Center

 Total Aquatic Programming LLC: Aquatics Panel COVID-19 Webinar 4/14/2020

 Evoqua: Portable Ozone Disinfection Cart

In light of pool and school closings, the national state of emergency and increasingly rigorous public health precautionary measures surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the GSP-SWMR virtual dual meet is postponed until further notice.

SwimRI Members & Friends!

In lieu of the canceled New England LMSC Short Course Yards Championship Meet, the Granite State Penguins have challenged SwimRI to a virtual dual meet consisting of time trials at our respective pools. We accept this challenge (assuming our pools remain open)!

GSP-SWMR time trials shall take place Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 22. During this nine-day period, we ask our coaches and group organizers to offer time trials at Masters workouts in any manner they choose – a dedicated time trials practice, a set or two off the blocks, or a few timed reps here and there during next week’s practices.

Swimmers may also do timed events on their own (with a timer), including as few or as many events as they please in accordance with the event guidelines and limits described below.

This event is informal and unsanctioned. There are no officials. The times will not count for USMS purposes, but will for our team points competition and bragging rights. In these respects, have fun and amuse yourselves via friendly competition and good-natured banter.

SWMR has more USMS-registered swimmers than GSP. However, I’m told that GSP relishes its David vs Goliath role and plans to go all out to beat us, to which I say bring it on.

We’re accepting GSP swimmers into our SwimRI Facebook Group, so let the trash talk begin!

WHAT:  SwimRI vs Granite State Penguins Virtual Time Trials Smackdown

WHERE:  At any Masters practice or on your own in any 25y or 25m pool. Click to view local practice locations and schedules.

WHEN:  From Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 22, 2020

WHO:   Anyone who is or becomes a USMS member affiliated with NEM-SWMR or NEM-GSP by March 22. Click to join USMS or renew your membership.

EVENTS:  Any scoring events offered at the canceled NELMSC SCY Championships

• Click to view the complete event list
  
  
• Max of 12 individual event per swimmer (no per-day limit)
  
  
• Up to 10 events from the Harvard Meet’s March 21-22 event list
• 500y freestyle
• Either the 1000y or 1650y freestyle
  
  
• Max of 4 relay events per swimmer (no per-day limit)
  
  
• 200y FR, 200y MR, 400 FR, 400 MR
• A swimmer may only compete in the men’s or women’s or mixed relay -- e.g., you cannot swim in both the men’s and mixed 200y free relay
• All mixed relays must consist of two women and two men

ENTRY PROCESS:

• Times should be submitted that day or the next day – e.g., if you swim a timed 100y backstroke time trial on March 15^th please submit that time by the 16^th
  
  
• Swimmers or coaches may submit multiple entries over multiple days
  
  
• All entries must be received by 11:59pm, Sunday, March 22
  
  
• GSP members shall submit times promptly to mindy.williams@simmons.edu
  
  
• SWMR members shall submit times promptly to douglas.sayles@swimri.org
  
  
• Emailed entries must include the following data:
  
  
• Full name
• Age as of March 22, 2020
• Gender
• Swimmer’s 2020 USMS #
• Event names & distances
• Times swum in SCY -- if swum in SCM pool convert time to SCY using this tool
• Swim date(s)
• Name of swim venue(s)
  
  
• Any times submitted without tenths or hundredths of a second will be completed with .99 or .X9

SCORING:  All events will follow the scoring system used at the NELMSC SCY Championships, up to 16 places per age group. Click here for scoring details.

RESULTS:  Mindy will promptly compile all submitted times and points by age group in Hy-Tek and provide to Doug for posting on the SwimRI website in PDF form.

• Interim results will be updated online every one or two days assuming there are a sufficient number of entries to warrant regular updates

• Swimmers from both teams are encouraged to monitor the interim results and to try and outscore each other

STAKES:  Bragging rights, and a potential wager involving beer

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS:

If you feel sick do not attend any practices anywhere. People at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 should consult a doctor before attending. Everyone should closely read this public health information and act accordingly: https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/

In light of the cancellation of the Harvard meet and other large events in New England and across the country, there are legitimate questions surrounding all group gatherings of any size right now. However, the CDC deems chlorinated pool water safe (although the surrounding facilities are another matter), swim practices are generally limited to 5 to 30 people at a time, and many swimmers want to continue exercising as long as practices are still being offered.

It is in this context that we hope this virtual meet will add a bit of fun to help combat the current environment’s uncertainty and anxiety.

Good luck everyone. Be safe and go SwimRI!

Congratulations to the 84 Masters swimmers from the SwimRI, NOSEY and Nutmeg Masters workout groups who, during January and February, collectively amassed 318,265 yards for New England Masters Swim Club in our Rhode Island heats of the 2020 USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship at the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, and Community College of Rhode Island.

Also, thank you for donating over $1,600 to the URI Women’s Swimming & Diving Team and over $1,000 to the RWU Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Team!

COMPLETE RESULTS FROM URI, RWU & CCRI HEATS:

2019 USMS Top Ten Relay Performances with NEM-SWMR and NEM-SCY Swimmers

Source: USMS Printed Top Ten Listings

200 SCM Free Relay

#4 – Women 120+ Behan/Hurley/Winslow/Dombrowski

#1 ALL AMERICAN RELAY – Men 160+ Wallace/Theroux/Allen/Card

400 SCM Free Relay

#10 – Men 160+ Burtchell/Sayles/Johnson/Gilson

400 SCM Medley Relay

#2 – Men 160+ Theroux/Allen/Wallace/Card

#7 – Mixed 120+ Burtchell/Dombrowski/Sayles/Winslow

#7 – Mixed 240+ Uustal/Porter/Elturkmani/Gurchiek

200 LCM Medley Relay

#4 – Men 200+ NEM-UNAT Barnes/Ottinger/Broglio/Weissman

#9 – Mixed 160+ NEM-UNAT Barnes/Ottinger/Behan/Stokes

400 SCY Free Relay

#3 – Women 18+ Dombrowski/Winslow/Bonin/Treanor

#7 – Women 18+ Garr/Palm/Carchedi/Haas

#3 – Women 35+ Nappi/Walton/Cotsonas/Neuendorf

#8 – Women 55+ McElroy/Rodewig/Phelan/Hevenor

#8 – Men 18+ Zhu/Gonzalez/Theriault/Hernandez

#1 ALL AMERICAN RELAY – Men 35+ Garcia/Theroux/Duru/Barnes

#7 – Mixed 45+ KielyKilpatrick/Dwyer/Wilkes-White/Ladas

400 SCY Medley Relay

#6 – Women 18+ Carchedi/Mellen/Wilkes-White/Haas

#8 – Women 18+ Behan/Wright/Treanor/Ludovici

#9 – Women 25+ Winslow/Bonin/Dombrowski/Miyano

#4 – Women 35+ Cotsonas/Walton/Nappi/Neuendorf

#4 – Women 55+ Garr/Rodewig/Phelan/Hevenor

#8 – Men 18+ Zhu/Gonzalez/Theriault/Hernandez

#3 – Men 35+ Theroux/Garcia/Barnes/Johnson

#9 – Men 65+ Garr/Nelson/Manfredi/Shearer

UPDATE: These organized heats are now open to any USMS member regardless of club affiliation. If your preferred heat is full select another heat, let us know, and if possible we'll move people around to fill all the lanes.

This winter the SwimRI workout group is once again helping its parent club, New England Masters Swim Club, defend its national title in the USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship by running organized heats for USMS-NEM-SWMR members on January 26th at URI, February 9th at RWU and, if needed, a makeup heat on February 22nd at CCRI. If you're not a 2020 member, click here to join or renew.

In this USMS-sanctioned event you may swim whatever stroke(s) you wish, at whatever pace you wish, continuously or with breaks. All participants must be USMS members and adhere to the event rules. For past years' results, click here. To read about the long history of the 1-Hour Swim, click here.

By reserving a spot in our local heats via our SignupGenius form you agree to honor your commitment (barring emergency) and consent to NEM-SWMR coaches officially registering you in the 2020 USMS ePostal National Championship and submitting your splits and yardage on your behalf.

The $30 swimmer fee includes the $10 USMS event registration fee and a $20 nonrefundable donation that covers pool costs and supports the URI and RWU varsity swim teams, in exchange for which the college swimmers will count and record splits for us during our Hour Swim heats. You can donate more to either college team onsite at the swim via cash or check. If you prefer, you may bring your own counter/recorder.

The SwimRI coaches reserve the right to adjust swimmers' heat and lane assignments if/as needed.

Sunday, Jan 26th @ University of Rhode Island (48 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 3 heats)

The URI complex opens at 7:30am for check-in. Warm up opens at 7:45. Heats start at 8:10, 9:30 and 10:50. All NEM members welcome as space allows -- priority given to those who practice at South County YMCA. At 12:30pm there will be a post-swim lunch party at Cap'n Jack's Restaurant -- family/friends welcome. For more info contact Stuart Cromarty at swimlane4consulting@gmail.com.

Sunday, Feb 9th @ Roger Williams University (48 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 3 heats)

Check-in and warm-up open at 7:30am. Heats start at 8:10, 9:30 & 10:50. As usual, we will hold the post-swim party at Aidan's Irish Pub, where we'll announce the winner of the total yardage betting pool. Each participant will have the option to contribute $5 cash to the pot and guess the aggregate yardage of all three RWU heats. To see last year's results, click here. For more info contact douglas.sayles@swimri.org.

Saturday, Feb 22nd @ CCRI Flanagan Campus (12 swimmers = 2 per lane x 6 lanes)

Makeup heat for NEM Swim Club members who cannot join us at URI or RWU. Heat starts at 10:20am and costs $15 per swimmer ($10 USMS event registration fee + $5 CCRI pool fee). Please arrive by 9:50am or earlier if you want to warm up. Arrange for your own counter in advance (consider asking a Saturday Masters practice swimmer to stay and count for you). For more info contact Stuart Cromarty at swimlane4consulting@gmail.com.

TO SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE ABOVE HEATS, CLICK HERE.

Can't join us on the above dates? Ask a friend to count for you during January or February and submit your results online via the official event website by March 8th. Every yard counts toward NEM Swim Club's total!

CLICK HERE FOR PRACTICE AND SCHEDULE DETAILS

St. George's School 8-Lane Hoyt Pool, Middletown, RI:

Schedule: 6:30 to 8:00am, March 9, 16, 23, 30

Deck Coach: Craig Irving. Cost: $5 pp for weekday St. G's Masters Swimmers. $10 pp for all others. USMS membership required.

Contact: Aquatics Director Keri Cunningham at keri_cunningham@stgeorges.edu or (401) 842-6643

The SwimRI and South County Y workout groups are once again helping New England Masters Swim Club (NEM) defend its national club title in the two-month-long USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship by running organized heats for 2019 USMS-NEM members. This is a USMS-sanctioned participatory event. You may swim whatever stroke(s) you wish, at whatever pace you wish, continuously or with rest breaks. All participants must adhere to event rules during the swim and officially enter your results online after swimming.

For past years' results, click here. To read about the long history of the 1-Hour Swim, click here.

Check-in and warm-up open at 7:30am. Heats start at 8:15, 9:35 & 10:55. Minimum donation is $20 per swimmer (additional donations accepted). Proceeds go to the RWU swim team, in exchange for which the college team records splits for us. For more information contact douglas.sayles@swimri.org.

HEAT ASSIGNMENTS (lane pairings will be posted onsite):

South County Y workout group members are given priority. Other NEM members are welcome if/as space allows. Heats start at 8:10, 9:20 and 10:30am. Cost is ~$10-$12 per swimmer. Swimmers usually time/count for each other. A post-swim completion party is planned for 1pm at Turtle Soup Restaurant. For more info contact Fred Bartlett at swimtrirunman@aol.com.

Can't join us on the above dates? Ask a coach or friend to time for you during January-February and submit your results online via the official event website by March 8th. Every yard counts toward NEM Swim Club's total!

Registration closes on August 1, 2019, or when the cap is reached.

As you plan your summer calendar, please consider supporting these local cause-related, community-based events and organizations:

Saturday, June 23: 13th Annual Narrow River Turnaround Swim, URI Campanella Rowing Center, North Kingstown, RI. One-mile open water race and fundraiser for the Narrow River Preservation Association. $35 registration. Low key race that traditionally kicks off our local summer open water season. The 2017 event sold out with 150 swimmers. Water temp is usually in the mid to high seventies. Wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
RESULTS  PHOTOS  Narragansett Times

Saturday, June 30: 25th Annual Buzzards Bay Swim, New Bedford to Fairhaven, NA. 1.2 mile open water race and fundraiser for the membership-supported nonprofit Buzzards Bay Coalition. This event includes individual age group, youth team, and adult team awards. Use the code MASTERS18 to save $25 on the registration fee. $150 fundraising minimum. The 2017 event had over 350 swimmers registered but was canceled due to lightening. Water temp is usually 68-70 degrees. Wetsuits allowed.
RESULTS  PHOTOS

Sunday, July 8: Clean Ocean Access Newport Harbor Swim to Skim (formerly the Newport Sharkfest Swim), Newport, RI. Two distances to choose from: 0.9 mile or 1.5 mile open-water swim through Newport Harbor from Perrotti Park to King Park. $55 registration fee. Wetsuits allowed. Proceeds benefit the Middletown RI-based nonprofit Clean Ocean Access, which does great work on a shoestring budget. VIP swimmers will include Olympian Elizabeth Beisel and local marathon swimmer Trent Theroux who is preparing for his ”Back to Britain” English Channel charity swim later this summer.
RESULTS  PHOTOS  Newport Daily News ARTICLE & VIDEO

Saturday, July 14: 8th Annual Waterman Eco-Challenge, Narragansett Town Beach, RI. One-mile swim (wetsuits allowed) and three-mile paddle board races with awards, sponsor tents and environmental awareness displays at one of the nicest beaches anywhere. $40 registration for one race or $60 for both. Proceeds from this event help support the Janice “Mama C” Causey Memorial Art Scholarship for young students. The 2017 event had over 150 swimmers.
RESULTS  PHOTOS  MORE PHOTOS

NEW! Friday, August 3: Beisel Youth Freestyle Clinic, Roger Williams University Aquatic Center, Bristol, RI. Olympian and Saunderstown native Elizabeth Beisel will provide freestyle swim technique instruction to 8-to-12-year olds at 10 AM and 13-to-18-year-olds at 11:30 AM. There will be time for photos. Spaces are limited. Part of the $50 registration will benefit Save The Bay.

Saturday,  August 4: 42nd Annual Save The Bay – Narragansett Bay Swim, from Newport Navy Base, Newport, to Potter Cove, Jamestown, RI. Iconic 1.7 nautical mile (~2 statute mile) open water swim across the channel along the span of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. $400 fundraising minimum. With up to 500 swimmers, this event is Save The Bay’s largest annual fundraiser to help protect and restore the Narragansett Bay region. Join our SwimRI Save The Bay Team, swim with Olympian and Save The Bay Ambassador Elizabeth Beisel and get in on our team shirts, photo, mimosa brunch at “The Ganny,” and potential team party later that day (TBD).
RESULTS  PHOTOS  ProJo  Newport Daily News  Jamestown Press

Wednesday, August 8: Salty Brine Swim Charity Dinner to benefit the Alzheimer's Association @ George's of Galilee Restaurant, Narragansett, RI. Casual $10 dinner buffet at 7:15pm after the 6pm NOSE open-water training swim at scenic Salty Brine State Beach. Please click the "Chip In" button to pay $10 for the buffet and be added to the RSVP list. Donations to the charity will be accepted onsite via cash or check (made out to Alzheimer's Association) or online via the Tribute Fund page at http://act.alz.org/goto/pauline-capobianco.

Saturday, September 8: Swim Across America Rhode Island Open Water Swim, Roger Wheeler Beach, Narragansett, RI. One-mile and half-mile fundraising open water swims to support cancer research and clinical trials at Women and Infants Hospital Rhode Island. $250 fundraising minimum. The 2017 event sold out with ~600 swimmers and multiple Olympians on hand. Last year SwimRI continued the post-Swim festivities on the beachfront deck at George’s of Galilee. Join SwimRI's SAA-RI fundraising team.

See the SwimRI UPCOMING RACES & EVENTS webpage for more open water and pool events of potential interest to local competitive and recreational swimmers.

Coached practices Tuesday & Thursday 5:30-7:00pm at the six-lane, 25-meter John H. Chafee Pool. Base pass required.

This group caters to DoD employees and their families, and includes some non-DoD civilians. To make arrangements for non-DoD civilians to get on base for swim practice contact mikegarr@msn.com or (401) 741-7193 or attend as the guest of someone with a base pass.

Most of the coaches are USMS-certified and SwimRI members. Some swimmers are SwimRI members, most are not. Written workouts are available to morning swimmers during lap swim hours without coaching or dedicated lanes.

Contacts: Mike Garr (SwimRI), mikegarr@msn.com or (401) 741-7193

                  Rachel Meyer (MWR aquatics head), rachel.m.meyer@navy.mil or (401) 841-2268

                  Bob Nelson (SwimRI), Diann Uustal (SwimRI)

Click here to see all SwimRI Practice Locations & Schedules.

April 29, 2018 -- Masters practices at Cumberland High School were canceled the past two weeks due to maintenance issues -- check the pool status with Coach Jeff Miksis at jmiksis@enviousswimming.com before attending. For the time being these Masters swimmers are going to Bryant University's Mon/Wed/Thursday practices from 5:15 to 6:30am. $5 drop-ins for USMS members.

Click here to join SwimRI’s team for the 2018 Save The Bay Swim and help us support and protect a healthy Narragansett Bay. This 42-year-old event is a 1.7-mile fundraising open-water swim across the channel from the Naval War College in Newport to Potter's Cove in Jamestown, Rhode Island. This year's Swim will take place on August 4th.

Anyone swimming, kayaking or raising money for Save The Bay is welcome to join our team. This year we're honored to welcome Save The Bay Ambassador and former Olympian Elizabeth Beisel to our SwimRI team. We always take a team photo in SwimRI t-shirts before the Swim, and often hold a team social event later that day.

For the past several years the SwimRI team and its predecessor (the former Newport Athletic Club team) has been the largest team at this event, both in the number of participants and the aggregate funds raised -- usually $20K to $40K.

Your participation will help support Save The Bay's mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay as a swimmable, fishable, healthy waterway that is accessible to all and recognized as the natural treasure it is.

Save The Bay defends the public's right to use and enjoy the Bay and its surrounding waters, and it fosters an ethic of environmental stewardship among people who live in or visit the Narragansett Bay region.

Save the Bay's leadership, staff and volunteers support an ecosystem-based approach to environmental action:

• The Narragansett Baykeeper, Narragansett Bay Riverkeeper and South County Coastkeeper act as watchdogs to ensure the Bay and its watershed is protected.
• Educators keep the public aware of the importance of our waters and teach good stewardship.
• The policy team works with state and local governments to pass laws that protect the Bay and keep lines of communication open with lawmakers on the importance of environmental action.
• The habitat restoration team restores and improves the ecological health of coastal habitats and watershed areas.

Click here to join our SwimRI Save The Bay Team. You do NOT need to be a USMS-registered Masters swimmer. However, if you're interested in our SwimRI Masters swim team and social network check out the rest of this website and our Facebook page or contact douglas.sayles@SwimRI.org.

1. Jessica Ackerman
2. George Alexandre
3. Rob Allen
4. Jill Beveridge
5. Catherine Brunell
6. Eric Burtchell
7. Stefanie Carter
8. Steph Cotsonas
9. Lynne Czech
10. John Dickmann
11. Sara Dinardo
12. Chris Dockray
13. Chris Doppke
14. Lynnette Dow
15. Paul Dow
16. Kaan Duru
17. Theresa Ferreira
18. Daniel Force
19. Brian Franco
20. Albert Garcia
21. Jeanne Garr
22. Mike Garr
23. Matt Gilson
24. Neil Greenspan
25. Bart Grimes
26. Wayne Grover
27. Rita Hansen
28. Steve Imbusch
29. Jill Lancaster
30. Gillian Langton
31. Kathy Lewis
32. Tom Manfredi
33. Jen Morin
34. Seann Mulcahy
35. Donna Neuendorf
36. Bruce Novis
37. Jim Porter
38. Mark Rafferty
39. Lisa Rauschert
40. John Roccabello
41. Jillian Scheider
42. Doug Shemin
43. Elliot Silva
44. Don Sorterup
45. Marianne Teixeira
46. Trent Theroux
47. Rob Torgerson
48. Kaitlin Wilcoxen

To be added to the waiting list, contact douglas.sayles@swimri.org.

We ask all confirmed swimmers to honor their commitment. However, we can often accommodate swimmers from the waiting list due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances that require previously confirmed swimmers to drop out.

The SwimRI and South County Y workout groups are once again helping New England Masters Swim Club defend its title in the Speedo USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship by running organized heats for 2018 USMS-NEM members.

This is a USMS-sanctioned event where you swim whatever stroke(s) you wish for one hour, at whatever pace you wish, continuously or with rest breaks, with a counter/timer recording your incremental times/yardage on the official split sheet. After completing your swim, you must officially enter your results online by March 1st so that your individual and club results count versus others nationwide.

February 11th @ Roger Williams University in Bristol (48 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 3 heats)

Check-in and warm-up open at 8:00am. Heats start at 9:00, 10:20 & 11:40. Cost is ~$15 per swimmer (additional donations accepted). Proceeds go to the RWU swim team -- the college swimmers count/time for us. Some heat 3 swimmers choose to do a side-by-side interval-based workout together rather than continuous swim. Swimmer spots are available for USMS members affiliated with New England Masters Swim Club (NEM). Post-swim lunch at Aidan's Irish Pub.

As an added incentive, each participant in the RWU heats will have the option to contribute $5 to the winner-takes-all Total Yardage Betting Pool. To see last year's results, click here.

RSVP to douglas.sayles@swimri.org with your prioritized heat preferences (e.g., 2-1-3). 

Priority given to SCY and SwimRI members who practice with Coach Fred Bartlett at the South County Y. There may be room for other NEM Swim Club members at Fred's discretion if/as space allows. Heats start ~8:10, ~9:35 & ~10:55. Cost is usually ~$10 per swimmer. Swimmers generally time/count for those in other heats. There is usually a post-swim luncheon. For more info contact Fred Bartlett at swimtrirunman@aol.com.

Meet Roster: $20 per person payable at check-in

September 9, 2017 -- Roger Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Despite the serious purpose behind the annual Swim Across America-Rhode Island Swim -- the motto for which is "Making Waves to Fight Cancer" -- the clear skies, large turnout, upbeat music and festive vibe surrounding this year's fundraising event was more than welcome after a summer swim season that saw the cancellation of four R.I. open water events and two others held in less-than-stellar weather.

However, on this near-perfect Saturday morning, three dozen SwimRI team members arrived early, displayed their trademark enthusiasm and team camaraderie, and stayed well after the finish to revel in the sun and sand before moving the gathering to the upper deck of George's of Galilee just down the beach at Salty Brine.

The day's pre-swim ceremonies included a moment of remembrance and dedication, acknowledgements by SAA CEO Rob Butcher, statements from Providence College Head Swim Coach John O'Neill, doctors and clinical researchers from Womens & Infants Hospital, and heartfelt remarks from a local cancer survivor. Overall, there were well over 500 swimmers -- including over 200 college swimmers and coaches -- who collectively raised more than $180,000 in donations to support local cancer research.

Kudos on a job well done to SAA event director and former USMS-NEM member Kathleen Tetreault, the SAA staff and volunteers -- including USMS-NEM members Rick Osterberg, birthday girl Jessica Stokes, Jennifer Dowling, Tom Phillips and Ildiko Szekely -- Olympians Liz Beisel, Alex Meyer, Craig Beardsley and Clara Lamore Walker, and all of the event participants and patrons.

Special thanks to our SwimRI SAA team captain Alexis Santoro and to Frank McQuiggan for rallying the troops. Next year we anticipate an even bigger SwimRI turnout and hope to raise more funds in support of this worthy cause and very well-run event.

Additional event photos are posted on the SwimRI Facebook page.

Below are the SwimRI 2017 April-June Saturday morning Masters practice schedules. USMS membership is not required at Roger Williams University or Pods Swimming, but is required at St. George's School. For complete Masters practice schedules see Locations & Schedules. Also see Upcoming Races & Events.

@ Roger Williams University in Bristol:

Dates: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 5/6, 5/27, 6/3, 6/10
Time: 7:15-9:00 a.m. (8 lanes)
Coach: Matt Emmert or Connor Devers
$5 drop-in fee payable to coach on deck.

@ Pods Swimming in East Providence:

Dates: 4/29, 5/13, 5/20
Time: 7:00-8:30 a.m.
6 lanes 7:00-8;00, 5 lanes 8:00-8:30, 4 lap/warm down lanes @ 8:30.
Saturday practices are written, swimmer-led workout unless otherwise indicated.
$5 drop-in fee or membership. To save time, sign the waiver and pay online.

@ St. George's School in Middletown:

Dates: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
General warmup: 7:00 a.m. (8 lanes)
Structured practice: 7:15-9:00 a.m.
Coach: Mike Toolin
USMS membership required.
Click here to view St. George's payment requirements.

Note: Saturday practices at CCRI-Lincoln are over until next season.

SwimRI placed second out of 75 teams at the New England LMSC Short Course Yards Championships held at Harvard University's Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, Mass., March 12 & 17-19. Outmanned 52 to 101 in registered swimmers by first-place Charles River Masters (6785.5 points), SwimRI (3674 points) held off Maine Masters' 56 swimmers (3267 points). Our friends on the 32-swimmer South County Y team placed sixth overall (2596 points). SwimRI's top male point scorer was 76-year-old Douglas Shearer with an impressive 159 points, and the team's top woman scorer was 49-year-old Donna Neuendorf with 144 points. Click here to view the full meet results.

SwimRI 1st Place Individual Swims

Women:
30-34 Erin Briskie: 100 back. 200 back, 50 fly, 200 breast
35-39 Keri Nappi: 100 back
40-45 Jill Lancaster: 100 free, 100 IM, 50 fly
45-49 Lynne Simmons: 1650 free, 200 IM
45-49 Donna Neuendorf: 100 back, 200 back
50-54 Mary Walton: 1000 free, 100 breast

Men:
35-39 Jason Osuga: 50 back
40-44 Chris Dockray: 1650 free
45-49 Trent Theroux: 100 back
70-74 Bob Nelson: 200 IM
70-74 Tom Manfredi: 100 fly, 100 IM, 50 Fly
75-79 Doug Shearer: 50 back, 200 fly, 100 fly, 400 IM, 100 back

SwimRI Winning Relay Teams

Repeating last year’s stellar performance, SwimRI's top relay combination was once again Steph Cotsonas, Mary Walton, Lynne Simmons and Donna Neuendorf, who placed first in all four relays in the 45+ age group. Most impressive was their 400 Medley Relay time of 4:47.98, which is 0.89 seconds faster than last year when they ranked #1 nationally.

Women 25+:
200 Medley - Stephanie Winslow, Sara Finatii, Erin Briskie, Jill Lancaster
400 free - Jill Lancaster, Sara Finatii, Keri Nappi, Erin Briskie

Women 35+:
200 Free - Amy Verreault, Stephanie Winslow, Keri Nappi, Jill Lancaster

Women 45+:
200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Medley, 400 Medley - Lynne Simmons, Mary Walton, Steph Cotsonas, Donna Neuendorf

Men 45+:
200 Free - Albert Garcia, Douglas Sayles, Trent Theroux, Kaan Duru
400 Free - Trent Theroux, Albert Garcia, Kaan Duru, Douglas Sayles
400 Medley - Trent Theroux, Albert Garcia, Kaan Duru, Matthew Gilson

Mixed 25+:
200 Free - Tim Clancy, Angie Bonin, Sara Finati, Mathew Card

Mixed 45+:
200 Free - Majed ElTurkmani, Carolyn Kilpatrick, Kylee Hitz, Paul Dow