World's top rowers will compete for "Triple Challenge" prize of $50,000
The Philadelphia Gold Challenge Cup Foundation announced that after a two-year hiatus, it will be holding the Gold Cup Challenge Series at Cooper River Park in Camden County, NJ on Saturday, October 29th. The race series attracts the top scullers in the world to the Philadelphia area.
The 2022 Series will be a full race format featuring the Hoffman Challenge (scholastic), Blackwall Duling Challenge (para rowing), US Lotman Challenge (US elite), and the marquee event, the Gold Cup (elite international single sculls), showcasing World Champions, National Champions and Youth scullers. The 2022 Series will award $120,000 in prize money.
In addition, the Foundation will offer The Gold Cup Triple Challenge - a prize of $50,000 awarded to an athlete if they win the single sculls event at three of the premier rowing events in the world: the Henley Royal Regatta (Diamond Challenge Sculls and Princess Royal Challenge Cup), the World Rowing Championships, and the Gold Cup race. The Triple Challenge was first introduced in 2018 and builds on the Foundation's mission to help raise the profile of sculling worldwide, in part by providing financial support to elite athletes in their training and development.
"Athletes around the world have persevered through the past two years of the pandemic, so we're especially pleased to bring the Gold Cup series back and give them an opportunity to participate in one of the most unique events in the sport," said Gold Cup Chairman, Bill McNabb. "We will of course continue to work closely with medical officials, local government, and invited athletes to ensure we can provide a safe event for all."
The Philadelphia Gold Cup Sprint Series format is a short course "sprint" race of approximately 750 meters. The race's shorter length is designed to foster close competition and down-to-the-wire finishes. The race course uses the middle four lanes of the Cooper River, and allows start-to-finish viewing by spectators from the river bank along the Camden County Boathouse.
More details, including invited athletes, scheduling, and the race day spectator experience will be shared in the late Spring. The Gold Challenge Cup Foundation stands in solidarity with athletes in Ukraine and will follow the recommendations of World Rowing prohibiting Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions.
Gold Challenge Cup History
The Philadelphia Gold Challenge Cup - Philadelphia Gold Cup race was commissioned by the Schuylkill Navy in 1920 to honor the undisputed World Champion in the single scull rowing. It pitted the world's best amateur male single scullers against each other in a sprint race on the Schuylkill River. John B. Kelly Sr., of Philadelphia's Vesper Boat Club, was the first recipient. In the mid-1960s the competition ceased and the trophy disappeared. In 1996 after a long absence the trophy was rediscovered and thanks to The Gold Challenge Cup Foundation the event reintroduced to its rightful prominence in 2011. Since its revival, the competition has grown to include the world's top female scullers, para-adaptive athletes, and youth scullers.