Old Guard vs. New Grit: Olympic Gold Medalist Sholto Carnegie to Face Team USA’s Cedar Cunningham at the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup
Old Guard vs. New Grit: Olympic Gold Medalist Sholto Carnegie to Face Team USA’s Cedar Cunningham at the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup
HIGH POINT, NC – The stage is set for a definitive clash of styles and continents at Oak Hollow Lake this Saturday, April 18. In the headline men’s single sculls matchup of the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup, British Olympic champion Sholto Carnegie will go head-to-head against one of the United States' fastest-rising stars, Cedar Cunningham.
The race represents more than just a battle for points in the Ryder Cup-style format; it is a fascinating study in contrasting rowing pedigrees.
The British Powerhouse: Sholto Carnegie
A cornerstone of the "World Team," Carnegie arrives in North Carolina with the ultimate rowing resume. Hailing from the historic rowing hub of Oxford, his path to greatness followed a prestigious trajectory. After dominating the collegiate scene at Yale University—where he helped secure the school’s first national championship in decades—Carnegie became a fixture of the British Men’s Eight.
His career reached its zenith at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he captured Olympic Gold. Known for his technical precision and the refined "British style" of rowing, Carnegie embodies the elite European tradition of the sport.
Photo credit row2k
The Pacific Northwest Phenom: Cedar Cunningham
Representing Team USA is the 6’8” powerhouse Cedar Cunningham. Cunningham’s journey is a testament to the rugged, relentless spirit of Pacific Northwest rowing. A graduate of Washington State University, Cunningham didn't follow the traditional junior path; he "found" rowing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In just a few short years, he has transformed from a collegiate walk-on to a world-class sculler, recently finishing fourth at the 2025 World Championships in the men’s quadruple sculls. Cunningham brings a "blue-collar" grit to the water, characterized by raw power and the high-volume endurance training synonymous with the Washington rowing scene.
Event Details
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What: Lenny Peters Cup (Team USA vs. The World)
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When: Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Men’s Single Matchup at 11:15 AM
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Where: Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, N.C.
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Format: 1,500-meter match play
A Rivalry of Geography and Philosophy
"This matchup is exactly what the Lenny Peters Cup is about," said Race Director Gene Kininmonth. "You have Sholto, who represents the pinnacle of the Yale and British system, facing Cedar, who is essentially the personification of the Pacific North West rugged work ethic. It’s the technician versus the engine."
With the World Team looking to defend their 2025 title and Team USA hungry for a home-water victory, the Carnegie-Cunningham duel is expected to be the pivotal race of the morning.
Media Contact:
Gene Kininmonth/Lenny Peters Cup Committee
genekininmonth@gmail.com
www.lennypeterscup.com