Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Columbia Holds Annual Kings Crown Rowing Association Banquet
2/8/2024 10:00:00 AM | General, Women's Rowing, Heavyweight Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
Lions’ 1984 women’s rowing team, along with recent HOF inductees honored
NEW YORK — Columbia rowing held its annual Kings Crown Rowing Association (KCRA) Banquet in the Low Library Rotunda on February 3, 2024, to honor the 40th Anniversary of Columbia Women's Rowing, along with 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees Libby Peters '06CC and the 1878 Heavyweight Rowing Team.
The event, which serves as the key fundraiser for the rowing endowment, brought together alumni across all three programs. Some of the founding coaches and rowers were in attendance, including Ed Hewitt '84CC, Yvette Nora '88BC, Emily Tow '88CC, and Susan Crane '89CC. Their dedication and grit were critical to the team's development from a club team in the early 1980s to a competitive program today.
The Hall of Fame celebrations continued, as the rowing program honored this fall's rowing inductees. Few Columbia rowing athletes accomplished what Libby Peters has in her career. A four-year rower from 2002-06 and co-captain, Peters earned a bachelor's degree in United States 20th Century History, minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. She was an Academic All-Ivy selection during her career with the Lions and was named the most valuable member of the varsity crew her senior year. Peters was also a Pocock All-American her senior year and a Mid-Atlantic First Team selection as a junior and senior. In addition, Peters was a two-time CRASH-B College Lightweight champion.
As a member of the U.S. National Team, Peters was the stroke of the lightweight quad, which won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. Peters helped her boat place second at the Olympic Trials that same year. Peters returned to Morningside Heights in August 2011 as assistant coach for the women's rowing team. She was named CRCA Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013 after helping the Lions' varsity eight earn an EAWRC Sprints Championship and picking up varsity eight victories at the Dunn Bowl and Connell Cup.
Known as "Columbia College Boat Club," the 1878 Columbia heavyweight rowing team was the first non-English crew to win the Henley Regatta in English waters after taking home the Stewards Challenge Cup.
In that year's first three-boat heat for the Visitor's Challenge Cup, Columbia placed second behind Monroe, Michigan, (with Dublin University Rowing Club disqualified). After winning an appeal, the Lions defeated Jesus College (Cambridge) and University College, Oxford. Finally, Columbia made history by besting the four from Hertford College in a head-to-head race in the championship.
In celebration of the historic victory, the triumphant oarsmen, who averaged a meager 163 pounds, were drawn along Fifth Avenue in an open carriage before a cheering crowd of thousands to the Columbia campus, then located at 49th Street and Madison Avenue. The team consisted of Charles Eldridge, Edward E. Sage, Henry G. Ridabock, Cyrus Edson, and Jasper T. Goodwin.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia Rowing, follow @CULionsRowing on Twitter and Instagram, and at the web at GoColumbiaLions.com
The event, which serves as the key fundraiser for the rowing endowment, brought together alumni across all three programs. Some of the founding coaches and rowers were in attendance, including Ed Hewitt '84CC, Yvette Nora '88BC, Emily Tow '88CC, and Susan Crane '89CC. Their dedication and grit were critical to the team's development from a club team in the early 1980s to a competitive program today.
The Hall of Fame celebrations continued, as the rowing program honored this fall's rowing inductees. Few Columbia rowing athletes accomplished what Libby Peters has in her career. A four-year rower from 2002-06 and co-captain, Peters earned a bachelor's degree in United States 20th Century History, minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. She was an Academic All-Ivy selection during her career with the Lions and was named the most valuable member of the varsity crew her senior year. Peters was also a Pocock All-American her senior year and a Mid-Atlantic First Team selection as a junior and senior. In addition, Peters was a two-time CRASH-B College Lightweight champion.
As a member of the U.S. National Team, Peters was the stroke of the lightweight quad, which won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. Peters helped her boat place second at the Olympic Trials that same year. Peters returned to Morningside Heights in August 2011 as assistant coach for the women's rowing team. She was named CRCA Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013 after helping the Lions' varsity eight earn an EAWRC Sprints Championship and picking up varsity eight victories at the Dunn Bowl and Connell Cup.
Known as "Columbia College Boat Club," the 1878 Columbia heavyweight rowing team was the first non-English crew to win the Henley Regatta in English waters after taking home the Stewards Challenge Cup.
In that year's first three-boat heat for the Visitor's Challenge Cup, Columbia placed second behind Monroe, Michigan, (with Dublin University Rowing Club disqualified). After winning an appeal, the Lions defeated Jesus College (Cambridge) and University College, Oxford. Finally, Columbia made history by besting the four from Hertford College in a head-to-head race in the championship.
In celebration of the historic victory, the triumphant oarsmen, who averaged a meager 163 pounds, were drawn along Fifth Avenue in an open carriage before a cheering crowd of thousands to the Columbia campus, then located at 49th Street and Madison Avenue. The team consisted of Charles Eldridge, Edward E. Sage, Henry G. Ridabock, Cyrus Edson, and Jasper T. Goodwin.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia Rowing, follow @CULionsRowing on Twitter and Instagram, and at the web at GoColumbiaLions.com
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