Princeton University
The Childs Cup: Penn and Columbia
Fifth-Ranked Heavies Open Ivies With Childs Cup Sweep Of Columbia, Penn
April 09, 2011 | Heavyweight Rowing
The Childs Cup is the oldest trophy in all of collegiate rowing, and the Princeton men's heavyweight crew can now say it has won the title as often as anybody else. The fifth-ranked Tigers matched Penn with 44 victories by sweeping their Ivy-opening regatta on the Schuylkill River.
Princeton, which opened its season last weekend with wins over Syracuse and Georgetown, had an impressive opening to its Ivy League season. The fifth-ranked first varsity retained the Childs Cup with a hard-fought three-second victory over the Lions, who last won this regatta in 2009. Princeton took the race in 5:28, while Columbia took second in 5:31. The host Penn Quakers rounded out the field in 5:39.6.
That was one of four victories for Greg Hughes' squad on the day. The second varsity had a slightly narrower margin of victory, topping Penn by 2.9 seconds. Princeton won in 5:38.5, while Penn took second in 5:41.4.
Princeton's other two victories came by larger margins, including another win for the freshman eight, which moved to 4-0 on the season by topping Columbia and Penn in 5:34.2, more than five seconds faster than Columbia. The Tiger 3V had the largest winning margin of anybody, finishing in 5:47.9 to defeat Penn by 8.5 seconds.
Saturday's regatta may have opened Princeton's Ivy League season, but it also ended its road schedule. Princeton has three regular season regattas remaining, and each will take place on Lake Carnegie in successive Saturday mornings. That stretch will begin next weekend against the highest-ranked team on the Tigers' schedule, No. 3 Harvard. The Crimson is the reigning EARC and Ivy League champion, though it had to hold off a gutsy Princeton push in the 2010 final to earn those titles. Princeton will get another chance at Harvard, as well as MIT, in the annual Compton Cup regatta April 16 at 9 a.m.
SATURDAY RESULTS
First Varsity
Princeton 5:28.0
Columbia 5:31.0
Penn 5:39.6
Second Varsity
Princeton 5:38.5
Penn 5:41.4
Columbia 5:53.8
Third Varsity
Princeton 5:47.9
Penn 5:56.4
Novice Eight
Princeton 5:34.2
Columbia 5:39.6
Penn 5:48.0
Penn 2F 6:12.5