USMS to Deliver Free Stroke Clinic in Rhode Island
Bill Brenner
LINCOLN, RI -- USMS COO and Education Director Bill Brenner will lead a free stroke clinic at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Flanagan Campus on Saturday, September 30, 2017. This clinic is coming to New England as a result of our LMSC winning the USMS Early Renewal contest in November and December 2016.
The clinic is free (no cost) to current USMS members and prospective USMS members age 18 and up.* Registration is limited to 36 swimmers in the water and up to 12 coaches who wish to gain practical experience working on-deck with Bill. Check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM, and the clinic runs from 9:00 AM to noon. There will be an optional post-clinic lunch at a nearby restaurant (possibly Ladder 133 Sports Bar & Grill).
The goal of the clinic is to help swimmers improve stroke technique and teach drills that will enable continued stroke refinement. All four strokes will be evaluated and corrected. Swimmers are not required to swim all strokes and may work on only those strokes they choose. All swimmers should bring goggles, fins, paddles and a towel -- fins are necessary to facilitate drills.
To register as a swimmer or on-deck coach, email Douglas Sayles at NEchair@usms.org or call (401) 633-5756.
Because the number or participants is limited, we ask that (barring emergency) everyone who registers show up.
*Prospective USMS members may participate in the clinic by signing a no-cost USMS trial/guest membership form onsite. Former USMS members whose memberships have lapsed must renew to participate in this clinic.
12th Annual Narrow River Turnaround Swim
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.
Theroux Completes 40-Mile Circumnavigation of Aquidneck Island
On September 26, Trent Theroux swam 40 miles around Aquidneck Island, home to Newport, Rhode Island, to raise money for RISE Above Paralysis - a non-profit focused on assisting families of people who have experienced spinal injuries.
Trent faced six-foot swells and headwinds during his roughly 18-hour swim, but he powered through and came ashore with a smile.
Check out a video of Trent's finish at Bowen's Wharf here. Follow more of Trent's swim via the real time updates posted to NE-LMSC and SwimRI's Facebook pages. Congratulations Trent!!
Press Coverage
April is Adult Learn to Swim Month!
The Governors of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont have all issued proclamations of "April as Adult Learn to Swim Month." We in the NELMSC are ready to celebrate!
Fifteen masters teams, representing all five states in our LMSC, are running Swimming Saves Lives programs and offering free swim lessons to adults in their local communities. A huge shoutout to these program directors, and all of the masters swimmers on these teams, who are donating their time as swim instructors this month:
Maine
Maine Masters: Tim Lecrone, Alford Youth Center, Waterville
Penobscot Bay Masters: Susan Rardin, Penobscot Bay Y, Rockport
Massachusetts
Cambridge Masters Swim Club: Sue Jensen, Harvard University/Blodgett, Cambridge
Martha's Vineyard Masters: Elizabeth Lytle, YMCA of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Haven
Simon's Rock PaceMakers: Bill Meier, Simon's Rock @ Bard College, Great Barrington
Pittsfield Polar Bear Masters: Georgette Keator, Pittsfield Family YMCA, Pittsfield
Worcester Area Masters: CJ Dickson, Central YMCA, Worcester
YMCA of Greater Boston: KerriAnn Foley, Boston
New Hampshire
Granite State Penguins: Karin Stokes, Londonderry & Salem Workout Clubs, Londonderry & Salem
Rhode Island
MWR Lobster Swim Club: Denise Vieira & Mike Garr, Chafee Fitness Center, Naval Station, Newport
SwimRI: Paul Dow & Doug Sayles, Newport Athletic Club, Newport
Vermont
Burlington Area Sink or Swim: Kim Fry, The Edge, Williston
Johnson State Masters & Norwich University Masters: Cara Hancy, Johnson State College, Johnson
UV Rays: Catherine Pearson, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, White River Junction
Stowe Masters: Charlotte Brynn, The Swimming Hole, Stowe
FREE ADULT SWIM LESSONS!
Research shows that adults aspire to swim more than any other fitness activity. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control, 37% of American adults cannot swim the length of a pool. It's not too late! If you know anyone who never learned how to swim, is afraid of the water and/or needs to improve their strokes or breathing technique, contact any one of the masters teams above or email swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com to schedule free swim lessons.
GIVING BACK
The Swimming Saves Lives program provides the perfect opportunity for masters swimmers to give back
to the sport they love by sharing their expertise and passion with beginning swimmers. If you'd like to volunteer to be a swim instructor this year or next, send an email to swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com. Training tools (a 10-page training manual and accompanying video) are provided.
INTERESTED FOR 2016?
Would your masters team like to run a Swimming Saves Lives program in 2016? Please contact Sue Jensen, the New England SSL program coordinator, at swimmingsaveslives@gmail.com to receive SSL Program Overview that will provide all the details for getting a program up and running. Grant money received from the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation to our LMSC will cover all your lane space rental and lifeguard salary expenses.