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    Sunday, May 05, 2024

    Kicking off the New Year with a swim

    Jeff Billing, of West Hartford, tows his son Ky, 4, on a boogie board as they participate in the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Geralson Withrow, visiting from Boston, screams “Happy New Year” from the water during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Runners enter the water during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Way Hedding, of Niantic, carries a bottle of champagne to share and a beer for himself as he stands in the water during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. Hedding has been participating since the 1970s, this year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    James Sweeney, center, of Niantic, lifts his hands in prayer as he and other participants react to the water temperatures during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Kayakers gather in the water during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Groton – Runners were greeted with warm temperatures and sunny skies as they entered the water during the annual New Year’s Day swim at Esker Point Beach Sunday, January 1, 2023.

    A group of friends started the annual event, a run from the Johnny Kelley statue in Mystic to jump in the water at Esker Point, in 1969. This year over 100 people participated.

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