Early in 2022 Sydney Uni sculler Tara Rigney dominated the Interstate Women’s Single Scull at the National Championships in Nagambie and did the same in our selection trials. Tara was given the opportunity to compete at Rowing World Cup 2 in Poznan in the single and claimed a bronze medal. She was then selected in the single for World Cup 3 in Lucerne where she claimed silver. Then in a full strength field World Championships last month in Racice, Czech Republic Tara won bronze to finish off a remarkable year of success.
After returning to Australia in early October Tara rowed in the Sydney Uni eight in The Australian Boat Race claiming the women’s trophy over Melbourne university.
Now come news that Tara has been invited to the Philadelphia Gold Cup of Sculling. This is a 700 metre sprint race between the top four male and female scullers in the world based on this year’s world championship results. The race is on the famous Schuylkill River and is part of the Head of The Shuylkill Regatta.
The four female scullers invited are: Emma Twigg (New Zealand), Karolien Florijn (Netherlands), Tara Rigney (Australia), and Hannah Scott (Great Britain).
The male scullers invited are: Kjetil Borch (Norway), Olli Zeidler (Germany), Melvin Twellaar (Netherlands) and Graeme Thomas (Great Britain)
This Invitational Race has something rare in rowing – prize money, with US$16,000 awarded to the winner. The Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge races will be held at 12 noon Saturday 29th October.
