Rowing News: New race format for Gold Cup Challenge Series expands opportunities for Scholastic, US Elite and Para rowers to compete in historic competition

Blackwall Duling Challenge for para rowers now offers $40,000 in prize money

Conshohocken, PA (August 30, 2022) – The Gold Challenge Cup Foundation announced a reformatted time trial approach and increased prize money for their race series to expand and balance participation opportunities.

The 2022 series features three races for US rowers, with finalists now being determined by 650m time trials: the Hoffman Challenge (scholastic), the Blackwall Duling Challenge (para rowing) and the US Lotman Challenge (US Elite). The marquee event, the International Gold Cup Challenge, is a finals only event featuring four of the best male and female elite singles from around the world.

US athletes interested in competing in the Hoffman, Blackwall Duling or Lotman races can find qualification information and registration details on the Gold Cup website: http://thegoldcup.org/

In addition, as a first in rowing, the foundation will offer prize money for U.S. elite para-rowers in the Blackwall Duling Challenge and U.S. elite rowers in the Lotman Challenge at equal prizes: $8,000 for first place, $6,000 -$ for 2nd place, $4,000 for 3rd place and $2,000 for 4th place for both men and women.

The prize money for the World Elite Men’s and Women’s Sculling Championship (Gold Cup Challenge) is US$16,000 for first place, US$12,000 for second place, US$8,000 for third place and US$4,000 for fourth place.

The Gold Cup Challenge Series returns to Cooper River Park in Camden County, NJ on Saturday, October 29, 2022 after a two-year pandemic break. Athletes from across the United States and around the world will compete in the unique short-distance “sprint” races of approximately 750 meters. The shorter length of the races is designed to encourage close competition and down-to-the-wire finishes. The circuit utilizes the middle four lanes of the Cooper River and allows spectators to view Camden County from start to finish from the riverfront along the boathouse.

By providing a range of exciting racing opportunities, in addition to prize money, the Gold Challenge Cup Foundation fulfills its mission to raise the profile of sculling around the world, in part by financially supporting elite athletes in their training and development. The Foundation also works with Head of the Charles to provide grants to support rowing programs that serve underserved communities across the United States and support their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. To date, the Gold Challenge Cup Foundation has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants and prize money to the rowing community.