SwimRI looks to three-peat at 2016 NE-LMSC SCY Championships

Winter is here, but "The Harvard Meet" is just around the corner on March 12 (distance day) and 18-20, 2016. Other than USMS national championships, the New England LMSC Short Course Yards Championship at Harvard University is the largest annual Masters meet in the country.

SwimRI has won the total team points title the past two years running. We're calling all hands on deck to help defend our title and bragging rights! Enter now and, if you're staying overnight, book your hotel rooms ASAP.

When registering, enter a few extra individual events to give yourself some options. You do not have to check in for every event, but if you don't enter an event when registering you won't have the option to swim it on race day. In addition to your favorite or "comfort zone" events, we encourage SwimRI members to enter a distance-day freestyle event and the 400 IM and/or 200 fly. These events (and relays) help us rack up points across age groups. And if you prepare, they are really fun ;)

About 100 SwimRI members swam in the Harvard meet two years ago when we set a new team points record, but our attendance and number of "splashes" dipped last year even though we still won. Let's see if we can get our numbers back up this year and hold off all challengers. We'll be missing a few of our studs at this year's meet, so we'll need everyone to contribute, including newbies!

Winning is often a team goal, but SwimRI is first and foremost about participation, camaraderie and enjoyment. To quote Frank McQuiggan, "If you're not having fun, why the @#%$ are you doing it?"


Saturday practice updates

Saturday 8:00am practices at CCRI-Lincoln's six-lane pool will continue for a few more weeks, except February 27th (pool closed). These CCRI workouts are open to the public.

On February 27th there will be a 7:00am to 9:00am practice at St. George's School's pristine eight-lane pool in Middletown. The cost will be $5 to $10 per person depending on attendance. We are hoping for a good turnout, both to promote SwimRI camaraderie heading into the Harvard meet and also to cover pool rental costs. USMS membership is required for insurance purposes. One-time 30-day trial memberships are available at no charge for adults who have never been a USMS full or trial member.

After the Harvard meet in March, Saturday practices move to Roger Williams University in Bristol during Spring. USMS membership is not required at these RWU workouts.

Heat assignments posted for the USMS 1-Hour ePostal Swim at Roger Williams University on January 24th

UPDATED 1/23: Below are the heat assignments for the 2016 Speedo USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship heats SwimRI is running for New England Swim Club members at Roger Williams University on Sunday, January 24th. Lane assignments will be posted onsite. The pool opens at 8:00am and the heats start at 9:00, 10:20 and 11:40. The cost is $12 per person payable onsite in cash or by check made out to "Roger Williams University". The RWU college team swimmers will again serve as counters/timers. When arriving on campus, use the North entrance and park in Lot D as requested by RWU Aquatics Director Matt Emmert.

Each heat will have 16 swimmers (2 per lane). Please honor the spot you reserved. If you cannot, call or text Doug Sayles at (401) 633-5756 immediately.

Before you swim, please read the USMS event info and rules. After you swim, use this same link to formally enter and submit your completed yardage for the national event.

Post-swim luncheon: A few swimmers usually arrive at Aidan's Pub in Bristol a little early (after heat 2) to secure tables upstairs, and others follow after heat 3.

Cancellation: If RWU cancels the event due to weather concerns, a notice will be posted on this website and on the SwimRI Facebook page. The cancellation backup plan is to preempt CCRI-Lincoln practice next Saturday, January 30th, and instead run make-up OHS heats at the six-lane CCRI pool.

2016 Speedo USMS 1-Hour ePostal National Championship

SwimRI is once again helping New England Masters Swim Club defend its title in this national month-long event by running organized heats for 2016 USMS-NEM members. This is a participatory event. You may swim whatever stroke(s) you wish, at whatever pace you wish, continuously or with rest breaks.

January 17th @ St. George's School in Middletown (32 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 2 heats)

SwimRI-South County Y masters swimmers given priority. Other NEM members welcome if/as space allows. Cost is ~$10 per swimmer. Time is TBD but usually between 9:00am and 12:30pm. Swimmers in one heat usually time/count for each other during the other heat. Post-swim luncheon at ~1:00 or 1:30pm at Bike Stop Cafe in Narragansett. For more info contact Fred Bartlett at swimtrirunman@aol.com.

January 24th @ 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 ~$13 per swimmer. RWU college swimmers will count/time. RSVP required to douglas.sayles@swimri.org with your prioritized heat preferences (e.g., 2-1-3). Post-swim social gathering at Aidan's Irish Pub.
January 30th @ Community College of R.I. in Lincoln (12 swimmers = 2 per lane x 6 lanes x 1 heat)

The Hour Swim heat will start at ~9:45am, after the regular 8:00am masters practice ends. Cost is $5 to $10 per swimmer. We can ask for volunteer timers from among the practice swimmers but you should arrange your own timer if possible. Please RSVP to douglas.sayles@swimri.org.

Can't join us on any of the above dates? Ask a coach or friend to time for you and submit your results online via the official event website by February 10th. Every yard counts toward NEM Swim Club's total!