Elite athletes descend on Philadelphia area to inspire young athletes and support rowing programs in under-resourced communities CAMDEN, N.J. — SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 — The world’s top sculling champions will vie for a first prize of $16,000 and title of world’s fastest single sculler at the Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge race held on October 24, 2026 at the Cooper River Park in Camden, NJ. The races run from 10:45 AM to 2:45 PM and are open to the public, with live coverage on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thegoldcup3659) and a Q&A with the international athletes open to spectators, following the races. The Gold [...]

2022 Champions Twellar and Twigg to Defend Titles Ahead of Paris Olympics World Rowing Champion Jeannine Gmelin Named Gold Cup Honorary Chairperson Conshohocken, PA (March 14, 2023) – Eight of the fastest rowers in international single sculling will face off on the Cooper River in a sprint race for the title of best single sculler in the world and grand prizes of $16,000. The 2023 Gold Cup Challenge will take place on October 28, 2023 in Camden, New Jersey. In addition to this historically significant race, there will be several events for US rowers, held to further promote and advance the [...]

PHILADELPHIA, November 10, 2022 – The Head Of The Charles Regatta of Boston, MA, and the Gold Cup of Philadelphia, PA,  are pleased to continue their commitment to diversity and inclusion by announcing grants for the third consecutive year. In a revised format, these grants will be for a two-year cycle totaling $200,000. The grants are being awarded to five rowing programs that focus on inclusion and belonging, serving under-resourced youth and communities throughout the United States.  The Grants Review Committee received and reviewed twenty inspiring applications from around the country. Each program presented its own unique approach to create, [...]

PHILADELPHIA, November 10, 2020 – The Head Of The Charles Regatta of Boston and the Gold Cup of Philadelphia are pleased to continue their commitment to diversity and inclusion by announcing grants totaling $100,000 to seven rowing programs that serve under-resourced youth and communities throughout the U.S. The Grants Review Committee received and reviewed twenty-two applications from around the country. Each program presented its own unique approach to create, grow, and sustain boathouses that are both diverse and inclusive. Grants were awarded to the following organizations: BLJ Community Rowing, Philadelphia PA ($12,000): BLJ is a Black owned and operated rowing [...]

BOSTON, July 13, 2020 – Two iconic American rowing institutions today announced that they will partner to create a new fund that will provide financial and programmatic support to emerging and under-resourced rowing programs throughout the United States, as part of a new commitment to create more inclusivity and diversity within the sport of rowing. The Head of the Charles Regatta of Boston and the Gold Cup of Philadelphia will join forces to provide $100,000 in seed capital to launch the Head of the Charles/Gold Cup Fund that will make annual grants to rowing programs that serve under-resourced youth and [...]

American Rowing’s largest prize series announces new formats for Elite and Para- Rowing.  Conshohocken, PA—The Philadelphia Gold Challenge Cup Foundation introduced today the 2020 format for the fourth year of the U.S. Lotman Challenge series of races and second year for the Blackwall Duling Challenge race. Both the Lotman and Blackwall Duling Challenge continue to support America’s top rowers financially with meaningful cash prizes given to the top scoring male and female rowers. Matt Imes, High Performance Director at USRowing, emphasized that “USRowing is excited to again be a part of these races. The event continues to be a great [...]

for the Storied Title of Gold Cup Champion and Largest Purse in International Rowing Conshohocken, PA (September 19, 2019) – Some of the fastest rowers in international singles sculling will be coming to the Cooper River on Saturday, October 26th for one of the last opportunities to compete against each other before lining up against each other at the Tokyo Olympics. The athletes will compete for the title of best single sculler in the world and a prize of $15,000. Hannah Osborne (NZL) will be returning to Camden County as the defending Gold Cup Champion. Challenging Hannah will be back-to-back [...]

Philadelphia, PA (May 14, 2019) – The Philadelphia Gold Challenge Cup Foundation announced the inaugural Blackwall Duling Challenge will be contested as part of its US and the World Sculling Competition on Saturday, October 26th at Cooper River Park, New Jersey. The Blackwall Duling Challenge is intended to highlight and promote Adaptive Sculling in the United States. Prize money will be awarded to the top four American men and women para-scullers in PR1 (Arms and Shoulder only) event. In this inaugural year, the Blackwall Duling Challenge competitors will be invited based off their performance at Para Trials which are being [...]

Philadelphia, PA (March 27, 2019) – The Gold Challenge Cup Foundation announced that it will host both its 2019 Men’s and Women’s International single sculling championship, as well as the final leg of the domestic U.S. Lotman Challenge®, at Cooper River Park, Camden County, NJ on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Scot Fisher, Board Member of the Gold Challenge Cup Foundation noted “after five successful years partnering with the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, we made the decision to separate our 2019 Gold Cup Challenge and final leg of the Lotman Challenge® from the HOSR. This gives singular focus to [...]