Contributed by Alison Kates, Program Coordinator, Narrow River Preservation Association
Results
Race photos
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI -- On Saturday, June 24th, 114 swimmers took part in the 12th Annual Narrow River Turnaround Swim, braving torrential rain. Starting and finishing at La Farge Park in North Kingstown, the route led swimmers a half mile down the Narrow River, where they turned around to return and complete the mile swim.
2017 Narrow River Turnaround Swim first place finishers (L to R) Stuart Cromarty, Diane Leith Doucett, and Matt Gilson. Photo credit: Frank McQuiggan
This year the swim was held on the birthdate of the late W.E.R. La Farge, a longtime benefactor of the Narrow River. W.E.R. donated the land for La Farge park to the Town of North Kingstown and a nearby plot of land to the University of Rhode Island Rowing Team for their boathouse and access to Narrow River. W.E.R.’s daughter, Louisa La Farge, and granddaughter, Lindsay La Farge Rosston, swam in the race and his step-daughter, Heather Lee, was the honorary swim starter.
Stuart Cromarty won the Men’s Wetsuit Division while Matt Gilson placed first in the Men's Non-Wetsuit Division. Diane Leith Doucett took first in the Women’s Non-Wetsuit Division and Emily Mitchell won the Women’s Wetsuit Division.
The Narrow River Turnaround Swim is hosted annually by Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA), which aims to protect and preserve the Narrow River and its Watershed. The swim is generously supported by local sponsors and by URI Rowing and O.A.R.S..
Check out The Narragansett Times coverage of the race here.