The Murphy Cup Regatta returns to the Cooper River on Saturday. Due to the recent rainfall, officials are moving the regatta from the Schuylkill River out of concern for participant safety.
“The Schuylkill River is expected to crest between 10 and 11 feet high on Saturday morning which makes the river unrowable,” said Freeholder Jeff Nash, liaison to the Camden County Parks Department. “Temple University, the organizer of the Murphy Cup, contacted Camden County to see if they could move the event here. We have hosted the event in the past, and are glad to do it again to that the regatta would not have to be canceled.”
More than 30 universities racing over 150 boats will participate in regatta that typically attracts 2,500 athletes and 2,000 spectators.
“We are glad to be able to offer these athletes a world-class venue for the regatta, and we are extremely excited to host the opening collegiate spring regatta in the area,” Nash said. “Having the ability and capacity to host events like this is an incredible benefit to Camden County, and is why the Board has worked so hard to maintain and improve Cooper River in recent years.”
The Cooper River’s Olympic-distance, 2,000-meter straightaway is widely known as one of the best rowing venues in the nation, home to numerous world-class regattas and the Cooper River Boathouse.
Spanning more than 346-acres through Collingswood, Haddon Township, Pennsauken and Cherry Hill, Cooper River Park has been Camden County’s gathering spot since it was created by the Works Progress Administration in 1936. Camden County is proud that the Cooper River has emerged as a premier destination for competitive rowing, adding to the diverse family-friendly attractions in our region. Cooper River Park was named a Great Place in New Jersey by the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter and continues to be one of the best greenspaces of the Delaware Valley.